The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

NIGERIA HAVE THE LAST LAUGH:Super Eagles top World Cup qualification group after sinking Algeria

Football

By The Standard | Nov 14, 2016

Victor Moses scored twice and John Obi Mikel added the other as Nigeria went four points clear in World Cup qualification with a 3-1 home win over Algeria in Uyo on Saturday night.

Burkina Faso and Uganda are also top of their respective groups after success on Saturday, but Senegal, among the favourites to qualify for Russia 2018, suffered a setback under controversial circumstances in South Africa.

Nigeria won a second match in Group B, after an away victory in Zambia last month, with Moses opening the scoring after 25 minutes when a fortuitous one-two was played off Algeria defender Hicham Belkaroui and allowed him to tuck away the ball.

Obi Mikel added a second in unusual circumstances. Both the Nigeria captain and the Algerian backline presumed Mikel was offside after a ball was scooped over a static defensive line.

For a split second, all stood still in anticipation of a flag from the linesmen or whistle from the referee, but neither came, leaving Mikel to react quickest and calmly slot home in the 42nd minute.

Keep Reading

A long range rocket from Nabil Bentaleb reduced the deficit in the 67th minute, but Moses grabbed his second in stoppage time at the end after a counter-attack move found him unmarked at the back post for an easy conversion.

Defeat leaves Algeria, who went to the second round of last World Cup in Brazil, in deep danger of missing out on Russia as they were left bottom on one point, along with Zambia, who grabbed an unexpected 1-1 draw away at Cameroon in Limbe.

Striker Collins Mbesuma slid home a square pass for a 34th minute opener, but Cameroon equalised on the stroke of half-time when Vincent Aboubakar converted a penalty. Cameroon have two points.

Hosts South Africa were handed a soft penalty two minutes before halftime in their Group D clash with Senegal in Polokwane which captain Thulani Hlatshwayo converted.

Television replays showed it was a mistake by the referee, but while incensed Senegalese players were still berating the officials two minutes later, they got caught by a quickly taken free-kick that saw Thulani Serero finish for a 2-0 home lead at the break.