Holders Nigeria face former champions Sudan in a fight for survival in the Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers in Khartoum on Saturday as Congo look to extend their lead at the top of Group A table. Cameroon ’72 Africa Cup of Nations champions Congo lead Group A after defeating Nigeria 3-2 in their group opening game in Calabar on September 6 and continued their solid beginning to the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Sudan in Pointe-Noire four days later. South Africa are second in the group on four points after beating Sudan 3-0 at home and battling to a goalless draw against Nigeria, who are third in the group on one point. Sudan are rooted to the bottom of the table after losing their two games. There will also be a tough battle for a place in Morocco 2015 between Dr Congo and Ivory Coast, who are joint-second place in Group D on three points behind leaders Cameroon on six points. The Eagles, who have been left with no options but to win the remaining four qualifying matches to stand a chance of defending their title in Morocco, will aim for maximum points against the Desert Hawks to revive their hopes of qualifying for their 17th Africa Cup of Nations. But the Eagles face a mountain to climb in the first leg clash in Khartoum as the Hawks badly need a victory to revive their faint hopes of climbing off the bottom of the table. A victory for the Sudanese, who won the tournament at home in 1970, will give the Hawks a huge boost going into the second leg in Abuja on Wednesday. However, the Eagles are clear favourites going into the encounter after running out winners six times in 11 fixtures against the North African country. They lost 4-0 to the Falcons in their Ghana ’63 Africa Cup of Nations game in Kumasi on November 28, 1963. Both sides battled to a draw in four meetings. African champions have beaten Sudan in their last four engagements. An Emmanuel Amuneke brace and a goal each from Rashidi Yekini and Friday Ekpo helped the Eagles beat the Falcons 4-0 in their Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash at the National Stadium, Lagos, on April 23, 1993. In their first leg Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup qualifier in Port Harcourt on January 27, 2001, Victor Agali bagged a brace, with Nwankwo Kanu completing the show to lead Nigeria to a 3-0 victory over the Falcons. Current Eagles goalkeeping coach Ike Shorunmu, Austin Okocha, Taribo West, Ifeanyi Udeze, Celestine Babayaro, Sunday Oliseh, Jonathan Akpoborie, Finidi George, Isaac Okoronkwo, Garba Lawal and Godwin Okpara were other players who saw action in the encounter. In the second leg at the El Meriekh Stadium in Omdurman on July 1, 2001, incidentally the last time Nigeria visited Sudan, Nigeria won 4-0 to seal their place in Korea/ Japan 2002. Yakubu Aiyegbeni grabbed a brace while Okocha and Julius Aghahowa on target each in the match. Other players selected by coach Amodu Shaibu, who took over from Dutchman Bonfere Jo, were Shorunmu, Udeze, Taribo, Joseph Yobo, Finidi, Kanu, Eric Ejiofor, Agali and Karibe Ojigwe. Ahead of the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria beat Sudan, who won the 1970 continental finals on home soil, 2-0 in a friendly affair in Abuja on January 9, 2008. The Eagles have been bedevilled by turmoil since their second round exit at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after a 2-0 defeat by former champions France. Stephen Keshi’s contract expired after the World Cup but the Nigeria Football Federation could not decide the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach’s fate due to the leadership crisis in the NFF. Despite the restore of calm in the federation since Amaju Pinnick was elected President of the NFF, Keshi’s future has yet to be decided, as the former Mali coach will be in the dugout for the two AFCON qualifiers still on a caretaker basis. Keshi, who was come under intense criticism from fans and the media following Nigeria’s poor start to Morocco 2015 qualifers, was reportedly locked in battle with some of the players over the performances at the World Cup, prompting the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner to make changes to his squad. While the former Togo manager snubbed the likes of Osaze Odemwingie and Victor Moses for the qualifying games against Congo and South Africa in Calabar and Cape Town respectively, he dropped Fenerbahce hitman Emmanuel Emenike to the bench for the two fixtures. South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot winner Emenike has taken issue with Keshi’s claim that he decided to sideline the former Spartak Moscow star because he arrived on the eve of match against Congo and not showing him and his teammates enough respect. “There are certain things you’d not expect from your coach,” Emenike was quoted as saying during the week. “If there’s any problem, as a player you only want to find out directly from him and not in the media, it’s something he taught us. “I feel honoured playing for Nigeria and I respect the coach like my own father. I give my all to the team because we are like one big family any time we all come together. “But for him to say I am creating a problem in the team and my teammates are unhappy with me is sad and unacceptable. “It’s like sending a wrong message to the fans, but if the coach feels my invitation will not bring the needed results or peace in the team, he can leave me out.” Keshi’s hopes of having Ukraine- based midfielder Michael Babatunde and on-loan Stoke City Moses in his lineup against Sudan in the fixture against Sudan were dashed after the two players were ruled out of the encounter with injuries. Moses was injured playing for Stoke City against Sunderland last Saturday, withdrawn after just 18 minutes of the Premier League fixture, which the Potters lost 3-1. Keshi confirmed on Tuesday the 23-year-old would be out for three weeks, meaning the player will also miss the reverse fixture against Sudan in Abuja on Wednesday. Keshi has since named Edem Eduok of Dolphins as his replacement. But despite Nigeria’s poor start to their Morocco 2015 qualifiers, Keshi insists the Eagles have not lost their mojo. “We have put the past behind us. We are preparing ourselves against Sudan in Sudan. We are trying our best to prepare ourselves for success. Any team that is going out for a game prepare themselves to be victorious, the former Nigeria captain was quoted as saying during the week. “Sometimes being third on the table doesn’t matter, it only challenges you more, makes you focus more and more determined and that is what we going to do.” Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who missed the fixtures against Congo and South Africa, echoed his manager’s optimism. He said, “The last NFF regime has been wonderful in terms of achievements and we want to continue from there. That is why I must say the Sudan game is a must-win for us, because it’s the first competitive game under this dispensation. On our part we are determined to continue to support the team and soon you will see what we would do through Corporate Nigeria and the rest of the game’s supporters and sponsors.” Meanwhile, Ivory Coast have been dealt a big blow in their bid to revive their hopes of playing in the competition for the 20th time. The Senagal ’92 champions , who suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals Cameroon in Yaounde last month to place third in Group D, have chance to leapfrog DR Congo on the log as they travel to Kinshasa today. DR Congo and Ivory Coast have three points each but the central Africans lead their West African opponents on super goals.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 12:46:38 +0000
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