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Uganda spoil Enyeama party in Nigeria

By David Legge
Nigeria Lille's Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama gestures during a match in Montpellier, on February 7, 2015.  By Boris Horvat AFPFile
MAR 25, 2015 LISTEN
Lille's Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama gestures during a match in Montpellier, on February 7, 2015. By Boris Horvat (AFP/File)

Johannesburg (AFP) - Nigeria goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama had his 100-cap celebrations spoilt Wednesday as visiting Uganda turned party-poopers with a 1-0 international friendly victory.

Farouk Miya, who plays for the Vipers club in Kampala, delivered the stinging blow nine minutes from time in southern city Uyo with a deflected close-range shot that looped into the net.

Enyeama is the second Nigerian after retired former Everton defender Joseph Yobo to make 100 appearances for the Super Eagles.

And he is the fourth African shot-stopper after Egyptians Essam El-Hadary, Nader El-Sayed and Ahmed Shobair to become an international centurion.

Enyeama plays for French Ligue 1 outfit Lille and the 32-year-old is widely regarded as the best current African goalkeeper.

Nigeria are rebuilding after failing to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and rarely threatened to score against the well-organised Ugandans also captained by their goalkeeper, Denis Onyango.

South Africa, who host Nigeria on Sunday in another friendly, warmed up with a predictable 3-1 away victory over neighbours Swaziland.

A Swazi club last month stunned South African opponents in an African Football Confederation (CAF) tie, but there was to be no repeat at Somhlolo Stadium in Lobamba.

Thulani Hlatshwayo, skippering Bafana Bafana (The Boys) for the first time, and debutant Thabo Mnyamane scored early second-goals.

Felix Badenhorst halved the deficit only for Mandla Masango to put the outcome beyond doubt with a third South African goal.

The match marked the return to the starting line-up of controversial South Africa midfielder Thulani Serero from Dutch club Ajax.

He was left out of the 2015 Cup of Nations by coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba after snubbing a pre-squad announcement training camp.

Gordon Igesund, who was replaced by Mashaba after disappointing results, accused Serero of feigning injury two years ago.

Gabon pipped Mali 4-3 in a thriller at Stade Pierre Basson in northern French city Beauvais with Bruno Ecuele Manga snatching the last-minute match-winner.

Borussia Dortmund goal-poacher Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, runner-up to Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure in the 2014 CAF Footballer of the Year poll, scored twice for Gabon.

French coach Alain Giresse was in charge of Mali for the first time since rejoining the Eagles after a spell with Senegal.

Porto striker Vincent Aboubakar poked a cut-back into the net on 36 minutes to earn Cameroon a 1-0 victory in Indonesia.

Cameroon 1990 World Cup legend Roger Milla labelled the fixture "humiliating", saying the four-time African champions should be playing better quality opposition.

Burundi equalised twice to draw 2-2 in Mauritius and prevent French coach Didier Six celebrating his debut in charge of the Indian Ocean islanders with a victory.

Andy Sophie put the Mauritians ahead on 10 minutes and Burundi levelled through a penalty before Bruno Ravina restored the lead midway through the opening half.

A 2-0 home win for Botswana over fellow southern Africa nation Lesotho completed a six-friendly schedule designed to prepare teams for the June kick-off of the 2017 Cup of Nations qualifiers.

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