Nigeria lost out in the last second of the game against Burkina Faso to claim a point. Alain Traore scored in the 93rd minute to claim a share of the spoils and cancel the first half goal scored by Emmanuel Emenike.
The Super Eagles returned to the Nations Cup stage against the Stallions of Burkina Faso and had the early running and could have scored the opener in the seventh minute when Brown Ideye looked in on goal, but the situation was rescued by Bacary Kone though it could have been blown for a penalty.
Captain Joseph Yobo made two consecutive mistakes which were almost gobbled up by Mamadou Dagano. The midfield battle was fierce with Fegor Ogude and Nosa Igiebor flattening Bacary Kone and Florent Boumba successively.
The goal finally came in the 23rd minute with a good ball floated beyond the Stallions’ defence from Mikel Obi and Ideye’s back-heeled pass was bundled in by Emmanuel Emenike.
The second half started with the Stallions pushing forward and Dagano almost gave them the equaliser in the 49th minute. A few minutes later saw Pitroipa go down in the box, asking for a penalty, but the referee waved play on.
Ambrose was shown a second yellow card on 73 minutes for a slight touch on Pitroipa. The touch was innocuous at best but the Celtic defender was given his marching orders.
Thereafter it was a tense affair with the Eagles keen to keep their advantage and the Stallions pressing forward their numerical supremacy. Mikel Obi had a chance to settle the tie in the 87th minute but he blasted wide. And all the missed chances came back to bite the Eagles as substitute Alain Traore snatched a point with the last kick of the game in a 94th minute scramble where poor defending led to the striker have his cake and eating it too.
The Burkinabes will next contend with the determined Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia while the Super Eagles must find a way around the Chipolopolo of Zambia on Friday at the Mbombela Stadium.
All four teams are on a point each with one goal for and one conceded so there is still a great deal to play for.
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