Nigeria’s hope of defending her title at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco got slimmer yesterday after the Super Eagles were stunned 0-1 by the Jediane Falcons of Sudan.
It was Sudan’s first victory over Nigeria since the East African nation won 4-0 in the first international football between both countries on November 28, 1963. Nigeria had won six out of their 11 previous clashes while both sides settled for draws four times.
Hitherto the weeping team in Group A of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers, Sudan seized the initiative in the early minutes of yesterday’s encounter but Nigeria’s defence absorbed the pressure with discipline to keep goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama on holiday for the better part of the first half.
But it was the Super Eagles that had the first chance to go in front in the 10th minute after a beautiful ball from John Obi Mikel found Ahmed Musa whose low drive into the Sudanese box located Nosa Igiebor but the Real Betis of Spain midfielder’s shot hit the woodwork and Elderson Echiejile failed to make haste with the rebound to the relief of the Sudanese.
Nigeria got another clear chance in the 17th minute when Emmanuel Emenike came one-on-one with the Sudanese keeper but could not get the ball past him. Ahmed Musa wasted another chance to put Nigeria in front in the 27th minute when he had only the goalkeeper to beat but looked too nervous to make the most of the opportunity.
The Sudanese, however, got their chance against the run of play in the 44th minute after great work from the right side and Babeker Bakri buried his header past Enyeama for their first goal of the final qualifying series.
Nigeria came out flying in the second half as Ambrose tested Sudan’s goalkeeper and Mikel’s follow-up went out for a corner kick that was wasted.
Stephen Keshi threw on Emmanuel Sunday and Raheem Lawal in a bid to get Nigeria back in the game but their introduction did not yield the much-needed results.
Sudan’s defence held out for a famous win despite Nigeria’s best effort and a Mikel’s disallowed goal to chalk up its first full points in the qualifiers.
Nigeria is now placed last in the group with just one point from three matches and the Super Eagles will host Sudan on Wednesday at the National Stadium in Abuja
South Africa earlier on stunned Congo 2-0 away in Pointe Noire to leap-frog above the Congolese to top spot in the group with seven points. Agency report
When I wrote on Kechi,titled an open letter to him,a lot of peoole called either to commend or attack me because of it.
Now,what I had seen then,which many couldnot see is now the out cry.Kechi is not the best for Eagles presently.
I am not disturbed about Keshi. The players are professionals and they should know what to do too. If Keshi should go, let him go with all these players too. They have not performed wonderfully well for this year. May be they have out lived their usefullness.
I am wondering why we cant field the leading club in our national league to represent us in international matches. This action will promote local league and make playing for this country to be a competitive assignment. It will also expose young talents, even at a cheaper cost and make coaching job very lucrative at the local level. You cant compare a team that is playing together and a collection of players of different styles. Lets give this a trial of 5 years and the result will be tremendous. Once that club representing us is no longer leading in the national league, it loses its right to wear our national colour. All their staff will travel with the players for any competition anywhere. I support the ‘gwadangwa’ players, coaches and staff, they want to make names, and they appear more comitted.