Massacre in Abuja

Massacre in Abuja

• Warriors strike over pay in Nigeria

• Zimbabwe unfazed by Nigeria

• Undertaker reports for duty

• Nyandoro injury blow for Warriors

• Mhlauri drops Dinha from Warriors squad

• Mwaruwari to finance Warriors camp in France

• Mhlauri set for shock Caps exit

• Warriors pick up $50m bonuses each

• Peter Ndlovu: the betrayal of a hero

• Warriors through to Africa Nations Cup

• Mhlauri relishes 'game of my life'

• Murambadoro settles for Palace

• Arubi gets surprise call-up to Warriors squad

• Cosafa Cup heroes to get land

• Zimbabwe lift Cosafa Cup

By Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat as Nigeria pressed but missed out on a World Cup place on a dramatic afternoon in Abuja on Saturday.

Angola -- scarred by unending civil wars in recent history -- completed a remarkable story as their 1-0 win away to Rwanda ensured their first World Cup qualification.

Zimbabwe were undone by a double strike by Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins and goals from Yusuf Ayila, Nwankwo Kanu and Osaze Odemwinge.

Benjami Mwaruwari pulled one back for Zimbabwe who had already qualified for the Africa Nations Cup in Egypt next year going into the match.

Martins' first was a gift, as he found himself unmarked just after the half-hour and had the easiest of tasks tucking the ball away. Warriors skipper Peter Ndlovu came close just before half time, drilling a long range effort which was smothered by the Nigerian 'keeper.

Nigeria rallied soon after the restart, getting a second through Yusuf Ayila but Auxerre hitman Benjani Mwaruwari raised Zimbabwe's hopes soon after. 2-1, and game on! For a moment, the Warriors appeared to believe it could be done with Shingi Kawondera and Ndlovu stringing together some neat moves.

However, the Nigerians were not about to give up the World Cup place to Angola easily and struck again just before the hour as Kanu went down in the box. Martins converted the penalty, sending Energy Murambadoro the wrong way.

The Zimbabwe resistance had been broken, and as news came in that Angola had taken a late lead in Rwanda, the Nigerians moved a gear and Kanu converted another penalty. The massacre was complete when Odemwinge ghosted in with the fifth to apply the coup de grace to an overwhelmed Zimbabwe side.

No matter though, as Angola made sure of qualification by hanging onto Akwa's solitary strike.

LATEST LOG GROUP FOUR
[The draw also acts as qualifying for the 2006 African Nations Cup. The winner of each group will compete in the 2006 World Cup, while the top three in each group qualify for the 2006 Nations Cup. Where teams are draw on points, the results of head to head clashes are considered, not goal difference]

TEAM		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
1	Angola	10	6	3	1	12	6	21
2	Nigeria	10	6	3	1	21	7	21
3	Zimbabwe	10	4	3	3	13	14	15
4	Gabon	9	2	3	4	11	13	9
5	Algeria	9	1	4	4	8	15	7
6	Rwanda	10	1	2	7	6	16	5

Fixtures: 2004

June 5: Nigeria 2-0 Rwanda; Gabon 1-1 Zimbabwe; Algeria 0-0 Angola

June 19: Rwanda 3-1 Gabon
June 20: Zimbabwe 1-1 Algeria; Angola 1-0 Nigeria

July 3: Nigeria 1-0 Algeria; Gabon 2-2 Angola; Rwanda 0-2 Zimbabwe

September 5: Algeria 0-3 Gabon; Zimbabwe 0-3 Nigeria; Angola 1-0 Rwanda

October 9: Gabon 1-1 Nigeria; Rwanda 1-1 Algeria
October 10:Angola 1-0 Zimbabwe

2005

March 26: Nigeria 2-0 Gabon
March 27: Zimbabwe 2-0 Angola; Algeria 1-0 Rwanda

June 5: Zimbabwe 1-0 Gabon; Angola 2-1 Algeria; Rwanda 1-1 Nigeria

June 18: Nigeria 1-1 Angola; Gabon 3-0 Rwanda
June 19: Algeria 2-2 Zimbabwe

September 4: Algeria 2-5 Nigeria
September 4: Zimbabwe 3-1 Rwanda; Angola 3-0 Gabon

October 8: Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe; Gabon v Algeria
October 8: Rwanda 0-1 Angola
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