{"id":5124,"date":"2013-06-18T00:24:53","date_gmt":"2013-06-18T00:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/6-star-nigerias-super-eagles-swamp-tahiti\/"},"modified":"2013-06-18T00:24:53","modified_gmt":"2013-06-18T00:24:53","slug":"6-star-nigerias-super-eagles-swamp-tahiti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/6-star-nigerias-super-eagles-swamp-tahiti\/","title":{"rendered":"6-star Nigeria\u2019s Super Eagles swamp Tahiti"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BELO HORIZONTE, June 17, 2013 (AFP) – Nnamdi Oduamadi claimed a hat-trick as Nigeria shook off the jet lag to thrash minnows Tahiti 6-1 in their opening Confederations Cup game in Belo Horizonte on Monday.<\/p>\n
The African champions only arrived in Brazil 36 hours before the game after a row over bonus payments, but they could even afford some wasteful finishing as they leapfrogged world champions Spain to the top of Group B.<\/p>\n
It was a predictably chastening experience for Tahiti, ranked 138th in the world, but they were nonetheless able to celebrate when Jonathan Tehau headed in their first ever goal at a high-profile international event.<\/p>\n
Tehau’s goal, early in the second half, trimmed Nigeria’s lead to 3-1 after a deflected Uwa Echiejile shot and a pair of goals from Oduamadi had put Nigeria in command.<\/p>\n
However, the south Pacific islanders’ hopes of a famous comeback were dashed as Tehau put through his own goal before Oduamadi and Echiejile added further goals to give Stephen Keshi’s men a spring in their step ahead of Thursday’s crucial showdown with Uruguay. <\/p>\n