Nigeria became the third African team to be knocked out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, joining Cameroon and South Africa on the early exit list.  The Super Eagles failed to soar into the last 16 with a 2-2 draw against South Korea that left them with only a single point from three games.

In a match that took place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, Nigeria had all the chances to win and progress into the knockout stage. Perhaps their greatest miss was by Ayegben Yakubu in the 65th minute. A cross from the right wing was missed by everybody, including the goalkeeper but the Nigerian striker produced what should be the miss of the tournament, firing wide from four yards in front of an empty goal with a ball that was passed to him at a slow pace and without bobble.

Nigeria made a flying start to the match. Though play was dominated by Korea, they managed to pick the first goal in the 12th minute. Nigerian right back, Odiah, made a strong run down the right flank and whipped a low cross into the 18-yard box that met the right foot of winger, Kalu Uche, who blasted it into the net. Nigeria had the early goal and with most of the supporters in the stadium behind them, the Koreans were in for a tough match.

Sloppy defending, by the Super Eagles, gifted Korea a way back into the match. A curling free kick from the right by Park Chi-Young was misjudged by the Nigerian defence and Lee Jung-soo at the far post was unmarked as he connected with the ball to score an easy goal using his left foot.

Nigeria did threaten to retake the lead. Uche came close to restoring Nigeria’s lead after firing a cracking shot from a distance but was unlucky to hit the post. The teams went for the halftime interval locked at 1-1. 

After the break, the match was more evenly balanced with both teams playing attacking football. But the Asian side took the lead in the 48th minute. A fantastic free kick by Park Chu-Yongon, from the edge of the box, caught out Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama. It was a poor goal for Enyeama to concede as the ball went past his left post which he should have been guarding; as the wall was set to protect his right.

The Super Eagles managed to get themselves back into the game. In the 69th minute, Yakubu converted a penalty to redeem himself from the shocking miss he had made earlier. The penalty was awarded after Korean defender Kim-Nam-II had brought down a Nigerian player in the box.

 At this moment, Argentina was leading Greece 2-0 in the other match in Nigeria’s group and the African side just needed one goal in order to make it into the next round. However, it was not going to be the Super Eagles day. Korea managed to hold out for a historic result as for the first time they progressed out of the group stages on foreign soil.

Nigeria’s exit means Africa only has three teams to look up to. But with Ivory Coast needing to score not less than seven goals against North Korea, Algeria needing a win against USA and Ghana requiring a draw against a desperate Germany, the future of African teams is not looking promising. If all teams fail to qualify, Africa will yet make negative history by being the first continent to host the World cup and have all its continental representatives eliminated in the first round.