Eagles Crash Out of World Cup

Super Eagles of Nigeria proved bookmakers right yesterday as they failed to make it to the knock out stage of the ongoing World Cup after playing a draw with South Korea in her third match in the preliminary round. Eagles, who had no point before going into yesterday's match and needed a miracle to qualify first by winning her match against Korea and at the same time wait for a favourable result in a match between Argentina and Greece. Argentina gave Nigeria all the opportunity to progress by beating Greece 2-0 but Eagles failed to grab the opportunity with both hands. Korea and Greece were in a pole position to progress to the next stage before yesterday's matches having won a match each in the group but the defeat Greece suffered was enough to send her home. Yakubu Aiyegbeni squandered a begging chance that would have made all the difference in front of an empty net followed by substitute Obafemi Martins. On paper, it was a mission impossible for the Eagles and they never disappointed. With this result, Eagles have equalled the 2002 World Cup record where team drew its last match against England. Lee Jung-soo and Park Chu-young scored for South Korea after Kalu Uche had given Nigeria the lead in the 12th minute. Ayegbeni Yakubu netted a 69th-minute penalty kick to draw Nigeria level again - moments after Yakubu missed a wide open net. Argentina won her match by beating Greece 2-0 and South Korea reached the World Cup knockout stage away from home for the first time. The only other time South Korea got beyond the group stage was when the team surged to the semi finals in 2002 World Cup on home soil as a tournament co-host with Japan. Nigeria was the second African team to fall out of the first World Cup held on the continent. Host, South Africa, was eliminated earlier Tuesday. Argentina plays Mexico on Sunday at Johannesburg, while South Korea plays Uruguay on Saturday at Port Elizabeth.