Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Peter Odemwingie scores only goal as Edin Dzeko and Co crash out of World Cup

Bosnia became the latest team to be eliminated from the World Cup when Stoke City forward Peter Odemwingie scored the winning goal in Cuiaba past club-mate Asmir Begovic.

But they will depart their first World Cup feeling aggrieved after Edin Dzeko had a goal wrongly chalked off for offside when the score was 0-0 and then Odemwingie’s struck in controversial circumstances after 29 minutes.

Emannuel Emenike sent Bosnia skipper Emir Spahic to the floor with a robust challenge before setting up Odemwingie to fire home from eight yards.

And in an agonising finale, Dzeko hit the post when a goal would have kept Bosnia's tournament hopes alive.

Bosnia knew there was no margin error after unluckily losing their opening game 2-1 to Argentina.

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Cool finish: Nigeria striker Peter Odemwingie (left) slots the ball past Asmir Begovic to give his side the lead

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Back of the net: Odemwingie's low effort goes through the legs of his Stoke team-mate Begovic

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Relief: Odemwingie (left) celebrates his goal with assist-maker Emmanuel Emenike (right)

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Centre of attention: Odemwingie is hugged by his team-mates and substitutes after finding the net

MATCH FACTS

Nigeria: Enyeama 7, Oshaniwa 6, Yobo 6, Omeruo 6, Ambrose 6, Onazi 7, Mikel 6, Babatunde 6 (Uzoenyi 75), Musa 7 (Ambeobi 66 5) Odemwingie 8, Emenike 7
Subs not used: Ejide, Uzoenyi, Gabriel, Egwuekwe, Moses, Odunlami, Azeez, Nwofor, Uchebo, Agbim.
Booked: Mikel
Goals: Odemwingie
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic 7, Mundza 6, Sunjic 6, Spahic 5, Lulic 6 (Salihovic 58 6), Besic 7, Misimovic 6, Medunjanin 6 (Susic 64 5), Hajrovic 6 (Ibisevic 57 6), Pjanic 8, Dzeko 6

Subs not used: Fejzic, Vrsajevic, Bicakcic, Kolasinac, Vranjes, Ibricic, Visca, Hadzic, Avdukic.
Booked: Medunjanin
Referee: Peter O'Leary (New Zealand)
*Match ratings by Joe Bernstein

But they faced a rejuvenated Nigeria who offered a lot more than their turgid goalless draw with Iran would have suggested.
It was a bright start for Africa’s most populous nation. 21-year-old striker Ahmed Musa, who plays his club football in the Russian League with CSKA Moscow, was a whisker away from applying a finishing touch after the ball flashed dangerously across the Bosnia goal.
John Obi Mikel shot wide when well-placed – which wouldn’t surprise Chelsea fans – and Begovic was forced to tip away from Ogenyi Onazi as Bosnia were put under the cosh.
But Bosnia, who have only been members of Fifa for 18 years, were robbed of the first goal after 21 minutes when Dzeko timed his run to perfection to convert a clever through pass by Miralem Pjanic.
The City forward, with 10 goals in qualification, couldn’t believe it as he turned to celebrate and saw the linesman’s flag in the air for offside, when he’d been half-a-yard on.
Ironically, it was the only chance Dzeko put away. Four more times he had opportunities to score but was twice denied by Nigeria’s excellent goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and twice missed the target

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No way past: Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko (right) is brought down by a tackle from Nigeria's John Obi Mikel

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Come back! Bpsnia's Muhamed Besic (right) grabs the foot of Nigeria midfielder Michael Babatunde

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Battle: Senad Lulic (right) muscles Odemwingie off the ball during the first half in Cuiaba

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Heads up: Emenike (left) and Toni Sunjic challenge for the ball in the air at the Arena Pantanal

Bosnia’s frustration increased when Nigeria took the lead. Spahic tried to block the run of Emunike but when the powerful striker bundled over him in retaliation and the Bosnia captain fell to the floor, New Zelaand referee Peter O’Leary waved play on.
From the resulting cross, Odemwingie scored emphatically to leave Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi glad he’d patched up his differences with the Premier League forward who didn’t play for his country for two years.
Nigeria need a draw in their final game against Argentina to guarantee their progress to the last-16 but they will qualify regardless of their result if Iran fail to beat Bosnia.

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In control: Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo leaps into the air to bring the ball down as Dzeko chases him

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On the run: Nigeria winger Ahmed Musa (right) sprints away from Bosnia's Izet Hajrovic

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On the slide: Lulic skips over a challenge from Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo (left)

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Having a go: Emenike fires a powerful right-footed shot towards Begovic's goal

Bosnia playmaker Miralem Pjanic tried to inspire his team-mates to draw level with a energetic performance in midfield.
But his low shot was saved by Enyeama late on while substitute Vedad Ibisevic, who scored against Argentina, failed to head in from a corner with Bosnia’s best chance of the second half.
Then, in injury-time, Dzeko agonisingly sent a header straight at Enyeama before sending another shot against the keeper and onto the post, leaving the Bosnia players to collapse in tears at the final whistle.