FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°23

Nigeria beat Bulgaria 1-0 at the Parc des Princes here on Friday to become the third team into the World Cup second round after champions Brazil and hosts France.

Victor Ikpeba scored in the 27th minute and Nigeria were much the better side in all departments. However 1994 European footballer of the year Hristo Stoichkov missed a golden chance to equalize midway through the second half.

Bulgarian coach Hristo Bonev made three changes from the side which drew 0-0 with Paraguay.

Gocho Guinchev came in for groin victim Ivaylo Yordanov in central defence, Emil Kostadinov replaced striker Luboslav Penev and Marian Hristov earned his place after midfielder Anatoli Nankov was sent off in the first game.

Nigeria made just one change which forced a reshuffle. Daniel Amokachi, who scored the second goal in Nigeria’s opening 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in the 1994 finals, came in to partner Monaco’s Ikpeba up front.

Ikpeba’s strike partner against Paraguay, Mutiu Adepoju, dropped back to right back in place of Mobi Oparaku.

Nigeria attacked Bulgaria at top speed straight from the whistle. Whatever coach Bora Milutinovic had done to motivate them before the match worked perfectly.

Chances flowed for Nigeria. Opportunities during the first half fell to Betis Sevilla’s George Finidi, Taribo West, Sunday Oliseh, who scored the winner from way out the area against Spain, and then Amokachi and Ikpeba ran rings round the Bulgarian defence.

Ilian Iliev weakly hit the side netting and Kostadinov shot weakly making it easy for Nigerian keeper Peter Rufai to gather but that was it for Bulgaria in the opening 45 minutes.

Ikpeba’s goal, only his second for Nigeria in 17 appearances, was both a piece of marvellous teamwork and beautiful individual skill combined. Jay-Jay Okocha, who continually caught the eye, fed Amokachi who put the ball through to the awaiting Ikpeba, who scored for a late birthday present having reached 25 exactly a week ago.

Ikpeba checked his stride to completely wrongfoot the defence to open up a gaping gap in front of him and he stroked the ball home.

Just two minutes later Ikpeba bustled past right back Radostin Kichichev to just miss goal with an effort from the outside of his right boot.

Ikpeba, a Christian from the south of Nigeria, jumped into the arms of Amokachi, a northern muslim, in an embrace which symbolised the united front Nigeria showed during this match.

Unfortunately for Nigeria, captain Uche Okechukwu misses their last group game against Paraguay after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament two minutes from half-time.

In the second half, Bulgaria coach Bonev brought on Munich 1860 midfielder Daniel Borimirov for Hristov.

Bulgaria made efforts towards an equalizer but the gulf in skill levels was such that they had trouble putting together effective moves. Meanwhile Nigeria, who slowed down after their high-speed first half, were content to show their technical skill by stroking the ball around in midfield.

Stoichkov, whistled by the crowd on his first touch at the start, had the goal at his mercy but he deflected Kostadinov’s through ball just past the left post of keeper Peter Rufai who was easily beaten.

With seven minutes to go, Garba Lawal would have scored Nigeria’s second but for Guinchev’s boot on the line.

And Kostadinov hit the crossbar in a final flourish.