African champions Nigeria this evening got the result they needed away to Congo, winning 2-0 in Pointe-Noire to revive their hopes of being in Equatorial Guinea next year to defend the Cup of Nations they won last year in South Africa.

Goals by Ike Uche and Aaron Samuel combined with superlative saves by goalie Vincent Enyeama to give the Super Eagles the scoreline they needed to overhaul the Red Devils and occupy the second spot in Group A behind Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

After a barren first half dominated by the hosts, the Eagles upped their game on the restart, and it soon showed. The first dividend came in the 57th minute when goal-bound striker Emmanuel Emenike was hacked down by goalkeeper Massari. Ike Uche stepped forward and cooly stabbed in the ball from the penalty spot.

In the 62nd minute it appeared as if the Congolese were destined to equalise when defender Godfrey Oboabona handled the ball in the vital area. Skipper Enyeama, however, restored hope by denying Bifouma the joy of finding the net from the penalty spot.

In the 71st minute Coach Stephen Keshi pulled out Emenike for Samuel Aaron, and that proved to be a masterstroke, for Samuel it was who scored a dramatic 90th minute goal to leave scores at Congo 0 Nigeria 2, thus avenging the 3-2 defeat by Congo in Calabar in September.

The match was held up for eight minutes after Samuel’s goal, as angry Congolese fans rained missiles into the pitch. The stadium had to be evacuated of fans and injury time played in front of empty stands.

Nigeria now need to beat South Africa at the newly-opened Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo, next Wednesday to confirm their ticket to Equatorial Guainea.