Nigeria put up a much improved showing after a loss to Mali to scrape past Mozambique 4-2 in a CHAN Group A match in Cape Town on Wednesday.Â
However, the Eagles stay in third place in the group after hosts South Africa were forced to a 1-1 draw by Mali in the earlier game of the section.
On Sunday, they tackle Bafana, while Mali and Mozambique do battle at the same time to determine the two teams through to the knockout stage.
It was a stunning first 20 minutes as it produced four goals.
Mozambique went in front after 10 minutes through a spectacular free kick by skipper Dario Khan from just outside the centre circle.
But just before the Mambas could really celebrate this stunning lead, Nigeria restored parity when Enyimba striker Ifeanyi Ede stabbed home after a nod-on from a long throwin.
And two minutes later, Kano Pillars playmaker rabiu Ali put Nigeria ahead when he fired home from well outside the box.
Skipper Chigozie Agbim will then deny 11 with his outstretched leg on 15 minutes, before Diogo equalised for Mozambique.
The Mambas ripped open the Nigeria defence and allowed the stocky Diogo to round up Agbim and coolly slot home his second goal of the tournament in the 20th minute.
Rabiu Ali again put Nigeria in front in the 54th minute, when he tucked away a penalty after a hand ball by Mozambique inside their vital area.
Substitute Barnabas Imenger made the game safe against a stubborn Mozambique when he calmly chipped home when clear of goal two minutes from full time.
Nigeria started this Group A match between two opening day losers and could have taken the lead after just three minutes, but goalkeeper Soarito came out to block a lob by Gbolahan Salami.
Ali then fired at Mozambique goal soon after to give a warning of what to expect later in this entertaining contest.
Even after the first four goals, it was end-to-end action as both teams chased the go-ahead goal.
And when Rabiu Ali gave Nigeria the lead early in the second half, Mozambique continued to chase the game.
In the 74th minute, Salami was denied his second goal of the competition after a Mozambique defender cleared his goal-bound effort from just outside the goal line.
Both teams created chances thereafter, before Imenger’s back-breaking fourth goal for Nigeria.