Nigeria and Uruguay met for the first time in a competitive fixture in their Group B clash in the Confederations Cup.
Oscar Tabarez's side weren't at their best throughout the game but took the lead through Diego Lugano, however, they were pegged back by a rare strike from Jon Obi Mikel.
Diego Forlan scored early in the second half which proved to be the decisive goal in the match as Uruguay held out for the win, to keep them in the competition and dent Nigeria's hopes of reaching the last four.
Follow how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Confederations Cup clash between Nigeria and Uruguay.
We're set for an entertaining clash this evening with a lot riding on this Group B game as Uruguay have to get at least a point to stay in the competition, while a win for Nigeria will book their place in the last four.
The teams are in and we'll start with Nigeria.
NIGERIA: Enyeama, Ambrose, Omeruo, Oboabona, Echiejile, Ogude, Mikel, Musa, Ogu, Oduamadi, Ideye
URUGUAY: Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Lugano, Godin, Caceres, Arevalo Rios, Gonzalez, Rodriguez, Forlan, Suarez, Cavani
No surprises from either team in those lineups as both Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani start for Uruguay but they make three changes as Forlan, Gonzalez and Arevalo Rios come into the side. Meanwhile, there are two changes for Nigeria as Ogu and Ideye come into the team for Mba and Ujah.
Nigeria will line up in an expected 4-3-3 formation with Ideye leading the line supported by Musa and Omeruo either side of him. Mikel, Ogu and Ogude make up the midfield trio, who will probably sit deep.
Formations: Uruguay will play in a 3-4-3 formation and they have an imposing front line consisting of Forlan, Suarez and Cavani. Those three players are interchangeable but expect Suarez to play down the middle. Lugano, Caceres and Godin will make up the back three.
Diego Forlan will earn his 100th cap for Uruguay, the first player from his nation to earn the honour.
There are a lot of familiar faces on show such as Liverpool's Suarez and Napoli's Cavani along with Forlan in the Uruguayan team. Meanwhile, Chelsea's Mikel is the standout name for Nigeria.
This is the first competitive match between these two nations, but Uruguay are unbeaten in their previous 11 matches against teams from Africa.
The national anthems have ended, so we should be underway shortly.
Tonight's referee is Bjorn Kipers.
We're underway in this Group B clash.
Uruguay are straight on the attack and Rodriguez has the first effort at goal which forces a save from Enyeama as he tips the ball over the bar. Corner to Uruguay.
Forlan plays the corner short but Suarez uncharacteristically loses control of the ball and Ogu manages to clear the danger.
First free kick of the day as Suarez is fouled by Ogude and Uruguay take it quickly as Rodriguez gets down the flank but Ogude puts the ball behind for another corner.
Another wasted corner for Uruguay as the commit a foul in the penalty area, easing the pressure on Nigeria.
The first foray forward for Nigeria and they win a free kick in a dangerous position as Echiejile is brought down by Godin.
It's another wasted set piece as Oduamadi overhits the cross and it goes out for a goal kick.
Another free kick awarded in the early stages as this time Cavani is hauled down by Omeruo. Forlan takes it but Cavani finds himself in an offside position.
A scrappy start so far from both teams, no-one has really put their foot on the ball and controlled possession so far.
CHANCE! A long ball finds Oduamadi in space he tries to turn Godin but he can't find a way past the defender. He eventually lays it back to Musa who fires just over the bar.
Yet another free kick. Nigeria win a set piece about 30 yards from goal Godin fouls Musa.
CHANCE!! Ideye strikes the free kick low and hard and Muslera fumbles the ball but before anyone in green can get there he manages to gather.
Dear me, we must be on some sort of record for free kicks award inside the opening 15 minutes. Uruguay have committed their fifth foul of the game and this time the set piece is within a decent sight of goal about 20 yards out.
WIDE!! Ideye lines up the kick again and this time he fires his effort just wide of the post, but Muslera didn't seem troubled.
Musa does well down the left as beats a challenge before sliding a cross to the back-post but Caceres is there before Oduamadi to guide the ball out for a corner.
Again, another corner is wasted as the ball is headed cleared form Oduamadi's cross and the ball comes to Musa on the edge of the area but he blasts his effort high and wide of the goal.
GOAL!! Nigeria 0-1 Uruguay (Lugano)
Uruguay take the lead and it's a scrappy goal as they win a corner on the left, which is cleared and comes back to Forlan. He whips another low cross into the area, which finds Cavani, he misses the ball but Lugano is behind him and side foots the ball home with his left foot.
Uruguay are nearly in again a Cavani gets behind the Nigerian defence but he's flagged offside just as he hits the ball. He isn't looking that sharp tonight the Napoli striker.
Great defending by Caceres as gets the ball from Ideye just as he is about to pull the trigger in the penalty area, there were plenty of defenders around but the Juventus man was the first to stick a foot in.
Despite trailing Nigeria have been the better side with the ball, they've looked far more dangerous pushing forward but that is how football works sometimes.
Nigeria win a free kick in a decent position, wide on the left, but Mikel lifts a cross right into the hands of Muslera.
Uruguay and Suarez show how dangerous they can be on the counterattack as he raids down the left and turns Ambrose inside out before crossing for Forlan, the ball takes a deflection and nearly goes into the bottom corner but it goes just wide of the post.
A nice passing move from Nigeria is ended by a great interception from Lugano. The Super Eagles strung together five passes before Ideye tried to find Oduamadi but the Uruguay captain was there to get a foot in at the right time.
A nice challenge from Arevalo Rios breaks up an attacking move from Oduamadi who goes down holding his leg after the challenge. It doesn't look good for the forward who appears to be in some pain.
It looks bad for Nigeria and Oduamadi as he's carried off the field on a stretcher, he's still receiving treatment off the pitch.
Oduamadi is back on the field now, he looks to be ok, to the relief of manager Stephen Keshi.
Nigeria press forward and Mikel is brought down and a free kick is awarded. They take it quickly out to the left and Echiejile crosses from the left but Ideye loses out to Godin in the air.
GOAL!! Nigeria 1-1 Uruguay (Mikel)
Nigeria are level and it's Mikel whose got the goal. He gets the ball played into his feet on the edge of the box, he beats Lugano with a clever move and slots the ball into the top corner past Muslera. A fine finish.
Nigeria go straight on the attack again, as Lugano loses possession. Musa drives into the box but scuff his shot wide of the post, when he had Ideye in support. That could have been disastrous for Uruguay.
Oduamadi is down again and looks in pain. This time he could be forced off permanently.
The first attacking threat from Uruguay for some time as Gonzalez strikes from distance but his effort goes over the bar. There wasn't much on for the midfielder who had little support in attack.
Substitution: Oduamadi has been forced off and is replaced by Babatunde.
Another attacking move from Uruguay ends in disappointment as Cavani finds himself in an offside position again.
CHANCE!!! A great save from Muslera denies Nigeria the lead as he just gets to the ball scrambling across his goal to stop a header from Ideye finding the net from a Musa corner. A fantastic stop.
Nigeria waste a chance to put another cross into the box as they opt to take a short corner and Gonzalez disrupts the move and forces a throw in.
HALF-TIME: Nigeria 1-1 Uruguay
It's half-time in this Group B clash and it's all square. Nigeria fought their way back into the game after going behind but they should be further ahead as they've dominated possession.
Uruguay have been far from their best and Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have been spectators in the game, as they've failed to see much of the ball. Despite, their poor performance they are somehow level and they have Diego Lugano to thank for poaching a goal from close range.
Nigeria have looked extremely dangerous and have played with pace and quality. Their finishing has let them down in the final third along with their crossing at times, however, they have dominated the midfield and if not for a good save from Muslera late in the half, they would be in the lead. John Obi Mikel has led by example in centre of the park and scored a lovely goal, that we don't see too often from him in the Premier League.
It's all to play for in this game and remember that a win for Nigeria will send them through to the semi-finals and send Oscar Tabares's side home.
The players are back out on the field and we should be underway shortly.
We're back underway in this Group B clash.
Nigeria are on the front foot as Echiejile raids down the left and finds Ideye but he can only blast his effort straight at Godin and the defender clears the danger.
Suarez sees a rare sight of the ball as surges down the right but Echiejile gets back at him and wins the ball for Nigeria and plays it into midfield.
GOAL!! Nigeria 1-2 Uruguay (Forlan)
Uruguay retake the lead and it's Forlan who gets the goal as he collects the ball from Cavani and surges into box in acres of space and he drills a left-footed shot past Enyeama into the top corner. A lovely finish.
Oscar Tabarez's side are on the attack again and Gonzalez fires an effort at goal but Enyeama beats his shot away and races to collect the ball and clear the danger.
Uruguay seem a lot more settled this half and are controlling possession in midfield, Cavani and Suarez are certainly more lively than they were in the first period.
Nigeria aren't backing down though as Musa finds space on the left and lifts a cross to the back post where Ideye tries to get on the end of it, but the cross goes behind for a goal kick.
A half chance for Ideye as he finds space in the penalty area but he attempts an overhead kick instead of looking to turn and the ball trickles wide of the post.
Uruguay seem quite content to sit on this lead for now and hit the Super Eagles on the counter, they have pace on the flanks and options of an out ball with Suarez, so Nigeria have to be wary of overcommitting at this early stage.
Substitution: Ogu comes off for Nigeria and is replaced by Mba.
Muslera had to be aware in the Uruguay goal as a Babatunde cross took a massive deflection off Maxi Pereira and looked as though it was creeping into the bottom corner before the keeper gathered it in.
CHANCE!!! A long ball finds Cavani in space and onside, he strides into the box but he takes too long to line up his shot and Echiejile gets back and his effort goes over the bar. What a wasted opportunity.
That was a glorious chance for Cavani to put this game beyond Nigeria but he couldn't take it. Can the Super Eagles respond?
CHANCE!! Ambrose raids down the right and passes the ball into the penalty area at Ideye's feet, he tries to turn but Maxi Pereira is there to get a challenge in at the vital moment to play the ball out for a corner.
Babatude's corner beats the head of everyone in the box and the ball goes out for a goal kick. How did no-one get on the end of that?
Substitution: Ideye comes off for Nigeria and Akala comes on to replace him.
Yellow Card: Akpala comes on and goes straight into the book for a challenge on Suarez.
CHANCE!!! What a miss! Cavani has all the time in the world to place a header into the net from a free kick from the boot of Forlan but he somehow heads the ball wide of the target, with only Enyeama to beat. An incredible miss!
Nigeria win a free kick as Lugano brings down Akpala with a cynical block as the striker looked to break upfield with Mikel. The set piece is just a yard beyond the centre circle, and odd decision from the skipper, will it cost his side?
Yellow Card: Lugano goes into the book for his challenge on Akpala.
The free kick is lofted forward and Godin heads the ball behind for a corner. However, the cross from the corner is poor and Uruguay clear their lines again.
Substitution: Suarez taken off by Tabarez and is replaced by Sebastian Coates.
SHOT!! Oboabona lines up a shot from distance on his left-foot and the ball goes right across the face of goal and out for goal kick. Nigeria will need to do better than that to get their equaliser.
Yellow Card: Coates goes into the book minutes after coming on to the field for a reckless challenge on Musa.
From the resulting free kick, Coates makes up for his error with a solid clearing header, which eases the pressure on the South American side for now.
Substitution: Rodriguez comes off for Uruguay and Alvaro Pereira comes into midfield.
Mikel does well for Nigeria as beats two challenges on the edge of the box before he squares the ball for Ambrose but the right-back skies his cross over the bar. That was a really poor effort from a decent position for the Super Eagles.
SAVE! Babatunde tests the handling ability of Muslera as he fires a left-footed shot from the edge of the area low and hard at his near post but the keeper is equal to the effort and clutches the ball into his body.
There will be five minutes of added time.
Nigeria have been encamped into the Uruguay half for the past 5 minutes. Can they find a late equaliser?
Musa and Echiejile combine well down the right as they exchange passes but as the left-back tries to slide a cross into the penalty area, Coates sticks out a boot and clears the danger.
Cavani has an excellent chance to seal the game for Uruguay but again he's denied as he tried to twist and turn Omeruo too many times and the defender knicks the ball away from him before he can shoot.
Nigeria win a late corner in slightly fortuitous circumstances as Akpala fouls Godin but the referee points for a corner. The ball is whipped in by Mikel and Muslera fumbles the ball and Akpala looks to strike but Kipers blow his whistle for a foul on the keeper.
FULL-TIME: Nigeria 1-2 Uruguay
That's it Uruguary have won and have kept themselves in the competition. They are surely a good bet to reach the last four of the tournament with Tahiti to play in their last game.
Diego Forlan was the difference between the two sides today, as he produced two moments of quality for his side's goals, as laid the ball perfectly for Diego Lugano for their first and finished in style himself for the second, which was enough to earn the victory for Uruguay.
However, should they reach the last four Oscar Tabarez's side have to play better than they showed in this game, especially Edinson Cavani and Lusi Suarez, who were extremely poor tonight.
Nigeria showed a lot of fight in this game but they lacked the quality when they needed it the most in vital situations in the game. They'll take heart from this performance but with Spain to come in the final game, their chances of reaching the semi-finals look bleak.
Thanks for joining our commentary today, until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
Portugal
Mexico
Russia
New Zealand
Germany
Chile
Australia
Cameroon
