Nigeria's Super Eagles took a major step towards qualifying for the 2015 African Nations Cup with a hard fought away victory over Congo.
It was a game that the Super Eagles needed to win, and they did respond appropriately, digging deep to secure victory.
Prior to the game, Nigeria knew what they were up against with the hostility expected from the host team, but it somehow helped them to develop a thick skin.
The stakes in the game was further raised after it was confirmed moments before the game in Pointe Noire, that South Africa have already secured first spot in the group with a 2-1 win over Sudan.
Nigeria didn't start the game the way they would have wanted, although they showed some urgency in the first half.
Some efforts came though, coming from the corner kick, with Ahmed Musa and John Obi Mikel the closest with their headers.
However Congo settled in the game and had the upper hand in the last ten minutes of the first half.
The Congolese wasted a couple of efforts, playing a looped one-two pass in the box, but they flashed the efforts across the post, N'dore was the biggest culprit.
Nigeria went into the break, surviving a late surge from Congo who marauded the Super Eagles defence.
The second half saw the tempo of the game raised, with both teams pressing with intensity for a goal.
The deadlock was finally broken when Emmanuel Emenike won a penalty, with Massa fouling the Nigerian striker in the box.
Coming back from an international wilderness after being out for over two years, Ikechukwu Uche calmly scored from the spot to give Nigeria a 1-0 win.
However the lead did not last long after Godfrey Oboabona's raised elbow gave away a penalty.
It was the defining moment of the match as Vincent Enyeama went down expertly and saved Thievy Bifouma's penalty and preserved Nigeria's lead.
Congo pressed for an equaliser and probed hard for a goal, but they didn't have any luck.
On the other end, Ikechukwu Uche came close to making it 2-0, but he blazed his effort way over the post.
It was becoming a nervy moment for the Super Eagles, as the game entered the final stretch, and Enyeama pulled yet another spectacular safe, right on the line to deny the Congolese.
But the game was killed off when Nigeria found the second goal, substitute Aaron Samuel curled in a brilliant left-footed shot to all but end the contest.
However, that goal sparked off ugly scenes in the stands with the Congolese fans rioting, and eventually emptying the stadium.
The Egyptian referee momentarily halted the game, and when he restarted it there was no time for a crestfallen Congo to claw their way back.
Nigeria are now second in their group, level on points with Congo but above them on goals difference.
With South Africa coming to town next week Wednesday, the Super Eagles are half-way there, but will now have to finish the job in Uyo.
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