Odemwinigie’s goal sends Bosnia out of Brazil World Cup

Bosnia-Herzegovina suffered their second successive World Cup defeat as Nigeria’s 1-0 win in Cuiaba ended the debutants’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

After a positive display in a narrow loss to Argentina in their first-ever fixture at this level, Bosnia would have been hopeful of picking up a maiden World Cup success over a Nigeria side who laboured to a draw in their opener.

But Peter Odemwinigie’s smart first-half finish gave a sharper Super Eagles side their own first World Cup victory in 16 years, although Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko saw an earlier effort wrongly chalked off for offside before hitting a post in second-half stoppage time.

The three points move Nigeria to second in Group F, with a draw in their final game against already-qualified Argentina enough to see them through.

Bosnia started on the back foot and Emmanuel Emenike was gifted the ball by a poor Emir Spahic pass, with Haris Medunjanin hauling down the forward and Odemwingie striking the resulting free-kick only inches wide.

Muhamed Besic bent a shot over Vincent Enyeama’s crossbar as the fast pace continued for the early stages, with Ahmed Musa then unable to control a perfect pass from Emenike.

The Super Eagles had not been shy to shoot on site throughout the game and Onazi once again called Begovic into action before Emenike’s own attempt slid wide.

There was still time for two chances to fall to Dzeko to salvage a point for his side, the first was a downward header that was easily saved but his second shot was diverted onto the post by Enyeama’s boot.

Bosnia drop out, while Nigeria take a big step towards progressing to the latter stages.