VARIOUS SHOTS OF PLAY IN PROGRESS. (NATSOF)




Initials PK/VS/PNG/OS


SPORT: SOCCER

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Background: A RECORD CROWD OF 45,000 PACKED INTO IBADAN'S LIBERTY STADIUM LAST NIGHT (SATURDAY) TO SEE NIGERIA AND SUDAN DRAW TWO GOALS EACH IN THE ELIMINATION SERIES OF THE WORLD CUP SOCCER COMPETITION. THE MATCH WAS MARRED BY HEAVY RAIN WHICH BEGAN FALLING ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER KICKOFF.

THE MATCH WAS THE FIRST IN THE FINAL ELIMINATION SERIES FOR AFRICAN COUNTRIES. SUDAN, IN SUB-GROUP FOUR, HAD EARLIER DEFEATED ZAMBIA, WHILE NIGERIA, IN SUB-GROUP FIVE, HAD BEATEN CAMEROON.

THE FIRST GOAL CAME IN THE SEVENTH MINUTE WHEN SUDAN'S OUTSIDE RIGHT, KOWARTU, SENT A HIGH KICK INTO THE NIGERIAN NET DURING A SCRAMBLE FROM A CORNER KICK.

NIGERIA FOUGHT BACK TO EQUALISE AND THE PACE OF THE GAME QUICKENED. BUT THE NIGERIANS MISSED SEVERAL CHANCES, ALLOWING SUDAN TO MOVE AHEAD EVEN FURTHER WITH A SECOND GOAL -- GAINED FROM THE PENALTY AREA IN THE THIRTIETH MINUTE.

NIGERIA'S FIRST GOAL CAME SOON AFTER WHEN CENTRE-FORWARD OKEYE SCORED WITH A HARD GROUND SHOT FROM MIDFIELD.

OKEYE ALSO SCORED HIS TEAM'S SECOND GOAL TOWARDS THE END OF THE FIRST HALF, WITH ANOTHER MIDFIELD SHOT FROM A CORNER KICK.

HEAVY RAIN AND THE SOAKED PITCH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR BOTH TEAMS TO CONTROL THE BALL AND MANY FURTHER CHANCES WERE MISSED.

NIGERIA AND SUDAN WILL NOW MEET FOR THE REPLAY IN KHARTOUM, SUDAN, ON OCTOBER 3.