NAIROBI, Kenya, March 29- Harambee Stars were brought back down to earth on Tuesday after a 3-0 loss to Nigeria in Abuja.
Ahmed Musa, Victor Anichebe and Ikechukwu Uche got on the score sheet for the Super Eagles in a devastating display of attacking football that exposed Stars’s defensive frailties.
It was the fifth time in the history of meetings between these two sides that Nigeria had beaten Stars by three goals to nothing.
Musa got the scoreboard ticking in the third minute of the game following the dispossession of Stars defender James Situma at the edge of his box by Obi Mikel.
The Chelsea stalwart supplied a through pass to Anichebe who crossed across the face of goal to the onrushing Musa who only had to tap it in for the 1-0 lead.
Stars responded with a sustained phase of midfield dominance with MacDonald Mariga, Joseph Nyaga and Jamal Mohamed asking questions of the home rearguard.
That period of play developed into several chances for Mariga, George Odhiambo and Bob Mugalia but all failed to capitalise as the first half ended with Nigeria having the one goal advantage.
Samson Siasia’s side came out of the changing rooms with renewed vigour and venom which the Stars had no answer to.
Anichebe doubled Nigeria’s lead with a well taken strike in the 47th minute. The burly striker latched onto a cross delivered to him in the Stars box and showed amazing control to head the ball down, turn and deliver a thunderous shot past Arnold Origi to light up the Abuja National Stadium.
As much as the Eagles had their visitors on the ropes, the half belonged to Origi who time and time again made up for his defense’s errors to keep the Eagles at bay with breathless saves.
However the Moss FK keeper could only limit the damage for so long as Uche who for most of the time he was on the pitch was denied by Origi made a mockery of Stars last line to rifle the final goal into the roof of the net in stoppage time.
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