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Nigeria’s Super Eagles this evening kept their promise not to return empty-handed from the 2014 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) but it was a hard-won victory against a determined Zimbabwean side in the third-place match just concluded at the Cape Town Stadium in South Africa.

The Eagles found it difficult to break down the gritty Zimbabweans, who played with a man less for much of the match after midfielder Masimba Mambare was given a straight red card in the 15^th minute for viciously marching on-rushing goalie Chigozie Agbim on the chest.

In the second half, the Zimbabweans borrowed a leaf from Ghana’s tactics that saw Nigeria failing to score in 120 minutes and crashing out via penalty shootouts in the semi-final: They combined off-side strategy with time-wasting by goalkeeper George Chigoya, who also pulled off sweet saves, especially off the booths of substitute Ejike Uzoenyi.

Keshi made five changes to the team that started against Ghana on Wednesday – including resting the mercurial Uzoenyi until the 51^st minute when he came in for injured Francis Benjamin. Victory came quite late – in the 84^th minute and, well, it had Uzoenyi’s imprint, with his cross from the right headed home by attacker Obiozor Chinonso, who played his way into the team for the first time during the championship.

For the Eagles, who debuted at the championship, bronze was not what they expected but it’s a good consolation.

Ghana and Libya are warming up for the final of the championship reserved for African players plying their trade in Africa.

•For the Eagles, another victory to celebrate.

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