Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Football, Oversea's Football Leagues, Sports
July 19, 2015

Wasteful Nigeria take slim lead over Congo

Wild finishing restricted dominant Nigeria to a 2-1 victory over Congo Brazzaville at the weekend in a dramatic 2016 Rio Olympic Games football qualifier.

Villain-cum-hero Junior Ajayi scored both goals for the Nigerian ‘Dream Team’ early in the second half before a capacity 40,000 crowd in south-east city Port Harcourt.

But Moise Nkounkou snatched a potentially crucial away goal on 66 minutes to leave the third-round tie on a knife edge.

Celebrated France-born Congo coach Claude Le Roy is hoping to take a team to the Olympics for the first time after a success-filled career with various African countries.

In other first legs, Algeria defeated Sierra Leone 2-0, Morocco edged Tunisia 1-0 and Zimbabwe and South Africa drew 1-1 in a competition restricted to under-23 footballers.

A combination of woeful shooting, brave defending and excellent goalkeeping by Congolese giant Christoffer Mafoumbi kept the Port Harcourt match goalless until half-time.

Ajayi was guilty of the worst miss, blazing over from close range at a stadium named after Adokiye Amiesimaka, a retired Nigerian football star who was among the crowd.

But the striker atoned three minutes after half-time when he poked a loose ball into the net after Mafoumbi failed to grasp a low Godwin Saviour cross.

Rattled Congo were two goals behind six minutes later as Ajayi sneaked unnoticed into the six-yard box and nodded home a cross after Etor Daniel beat out-of-position Mafoumbi to the ball.

Nigeria attacked relentlessly, seeking more goals and a tie-clinching lead ahead of the early August return match in Atlantic city Pointe-Noire.

They had a legitimate penalty appeal for hand-ball rejected by the Kenyan referee and Congolese Junior Makiesse was lucky to escape with a yellow card after a horrific foot-up foul.

Congo halved the deficit against the run of play as Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Emmanuel cleared the ball with his leg and Nkounkou dashed in to score.

Zimbabwe were fortunate to escape with a draw after South Africa created more chances on an artificial Rufaro Stadium pitch in Harare.

Keegan Dolly gave the visitors a 67th-minute lead that was cancelled when Walter Musona converted a penalty seven minutes from time.

Abdelhakim Amokrane scored twice within 21 minutes of the kick-off as Algeria achieved a convincing victory over Sierra Leone at Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida near Algiers.

Far superior Morocco pipped Tunisia in Rabat thanks to an Achraf Bencherki penalty on the stroke of half-time at Stade Moulay Hassan.

The seven third-round winners advance to a November 28-December 12 tournament with hosts Senegal and the top-three finishers qualifying for the Rio Olympics.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

New ITA director general appointed
Latest News, News
New ITA director general appointed
July 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Lieutenant Colonel Sheldon Bryan of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has been appointed   Director General of the Island Traffic Au...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
48-hour curfew extended in the St Andrew North Division
Latest News, News
48-hour curfew extended in the St Andrew North Division
July 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A 48-hour curfew that has been imposed in sections of the Lane Pass, Brooks Level, and Airy Castle communities in the St Andrew No...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Westmoreland reports steady decline in mosquito breeding
Latest News, News
Westmoreland reports steady decline in mosquito breeding
July 15, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica —  The Westmoreland Health Department has recorded a steady decline in the parish's Aedes index over the past three months. Medical ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
48-hour curfew imposed in Kingston Eastern Division
Latest News, News
48-hour curfew imposed in Kingston Eastern Division
July 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A 48-hour curfew has been imposed within the Kingston Eastern Policing Division. The curfew begins from 6:00 pm Wednesday, July 15...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
NWC tops OUR’s 2025 Mystery Shopping Study for customer experience
Latest News, News
NWC tops OUR’s 2025 Mystery Shopping Study for customer experience
July 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Water Commission (NWC) delivered the best overall customer experience among Jamaica's major utility providers, accord...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Public schools to get additional $757 million for 2026/27 academic year
Latest News, News
Public schools to get additional $757 million for 2026/27 academic year
July 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Public schools across Jamaica will receive an additional $757.5 million in funding for the upcoming 2026/27 academic year. The dis...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Taxi fares, food push inflation to 29-month high
Business, Latest News
Taxi fares, food push inflation to 29-month high
July 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 6.7 per cent in June, its highest level since January 2024 and above the Bank of Ja...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Second murder trial of convicted wife-killer Collymore delayed to September
Latest News, News
Second murder trial of convicted wife-killer Collymore delayed to September
July 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A fresh trial on an unrelated murder charge was set to begin Wednesday for Omar Collymore who is currently serving a double life s...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct