Nigeria thrash minnows Tahiti

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.

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.

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.

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 Nigeriain command.

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.

"It was a little bit difficult to up our game," said Nigeria coach Keshi.

"When you know you're playing against, with all due respect, the Tahiti team, you think everything's easy. They showed us that they can play football. Congratulations to them."

There were only 20,187 people in attendance at the newly renovated Estadio Mineirao but they were vocal in their support of Tahiti, who were granted a standing ovation at the end of the game.

"I'm very proud of the team, who fought to the end," Marama Vahirua, Tahiti's only professional player, told Brazilian television.

"We came here with the goal of winning the hearts of the fans. The Brazilian public has adopted us and it makes us very happy."

There were roars of encouragement when Tahiti full-back Vincent Simon registered the game's first shot on target in the second minute, but fortune deserted the underdogs moments later.

After the ball bounced off referee Joel Aguilar, Echiejile launched a speculative shot that deflected off Tehau and captain Nicolas Vallar and ricocheted past Tahiti goalkeeper Xavier Samin.

Oduamadi added two more, neatly side-stepping a pair of challenges and sweeping home in the 10th minute, before tapping in his second when Samin spilled a low cross from Ahmed Musa.

Nigeria made heavy work of putting the game to bed though, with Musa, Anthony Ujah and Sunday Mba all failing to convert glaring opportunities before the goal that Tahiti had been threatening arrived in the 54th minute.

The honour fell to Tehau, who headed in a deep corner kick from Vahirua at the back post and then led his ecstatic team-mates in a canoe-paddling celebration.

The goal also sparked jubilation on the bench, coach Eddy Etatea leaping from the dug-out with his fists in the air, but Tehau's day took a turn for the worse in the 68th minute when he inadvertently toed the ball into his own goal to restore Nigeria's three-goal advantage.

Oduamadi tucked in a cross from substitute Brown Ideye to complete his hat-trick in the 76th minute, with Echiejile adding a sixth shortly after as Tahiti's reserves of resistance finally ran dry.

Tehau dreams of Barca after landmark goal

Jonathan Tehau struggled to articulate his joy after becoming the first player to score for Tahiti at a high-profile international tournament in his side's 6-1 loss to Nigeria at the Confederations Cup.

Ranked 138th in the world, Tahiti are making their first appearance in a competition of this level and despite the margin of defeat in Monday's game, they celebrated Tehau's 54th-minute goal like a victory.

With the score 3-0, Tehau converted a back post-header from a corner before leading his team-mates in an imitation of the kayak-paddling celebration performed by Marama Vahirua, their one professional player.

The midfielder, who also works as a delivery driver and plays alongside his twin brothers Lorenzo and Alvin, as well as cousin Teaonui, said his mind had gone blank when the ball hit the net.

"I didn't think of anything. I just celebrated the goal with my friends," said the 25-year-old, who also scored an own goal later in the game.

"It's just huge. Already, coming here to Brazil, and then scoring the goal, I'm very happy for me, for my family, my friends and my team-mates."

Tehau said he hoped the goal would transform his life and when asked to name his ideal club, he replied with a grin: "Why not dream? Barcelona."

For Vahirua, Tehau's goal represented all that Tahiti could have hoped for.

"For us, we've won," he said. "Nobody saw us scoring a goal; nobody but us. From the start, I told my team-mates to believe in ourselves.

"Football is never an exact science. We might be amateurs, but in our hearts and our heads, we have to act like professionals. We're proud of ourselves."

Tahiti were backed by the vast majority of the meagre crowd inside Belo Horizonte's Estadio Mineirao, who booed Nigeria's players throughout and celebrated enthusiastically when Tehau scored.

Coach Eddy Etaeta, who claimed the Tahitian government had broken off a ministerial meeting in order to watch the game, said he had been overwhelmed by the reception.

"I looked at the crowd and said: 'Wow, Belo Horizonte is with us,'" he said.

"I'd like to thank all the people who helped us, all the supporters who were there at the training. We're not used to being supported but today, I think we managed to conquer the hearts of the Brazilians."

The might of world and European champions Spain now awaits Etaeta's side, but Tehau said they would take heart from their display against Nigeria.

"We'll have to try not to concede too many goals, try not to play badly, as we managed to do tonight, and try to enjoy playing against these players who we see on TV all the time," he said.

Keshi thankful as Nigeria emerge unscathed

 Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said he was relieved his side had avoided any further injuries after they thrashed minnows Tahiti 6-1 in their opening game at the Confederations Cup in Belo Horizonte.

Forwards Victor Moses, Kalu Uche and Emmanuel Emenike were all ruled out by injury before the tournament, while midfielder Ogenyi Onazi missed Monday's game with a knee problem.

Keshi hopes the Lazio player will be available for Thursday's encounter with Uruguay, which is likely to play a significant role in determining whether or notNigeria progress from Group B.

"There are no (new) injuries to the players, because I've already lost four players," he said.

"With all this journey we've been having, arriving yesterday (Sunday) morning at four o'clock, I'm just happy there's no major problems concerning injuries."

Nigeria's preparations were disrupted by a dispute over bonus payments that meant the squad did not arrive until 36 hours before their first game.

Speaking ahead of the game, captain Vincent Enyeama had revealed that the disagreement remained unresolved, but Keshi said that was not the case.

"The issue of the bonuses has been settled. Nothing is holding us back anymore and all we need to do now is play football," he said.

Nnamdi Oduamadi, who scored a hat-trick for the African champions at Estadio Mineirao, said the players had put the dispute behind them.

"I'll say it's a big relief now, due to the stuff we had with the delay and missing the flights," said the 22-year-old forward, who spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Italian second-tier side Varese from AC Milan.

"This victory will give us a big morale. We'll talk in the group now, do everything the coach says, and we'll see what happens in the second game."

Nigeria's victory took them above Spain on goal difference at the top of Group B.