10th October, 2010
The Super Eagles of Nigeria suffered a setback in their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying campaign this evening, losing 0-1 to the Syli National of Guinea at the 28 September Stadium, Conakry, Guinea.
Kevin Constant scored for Guinea in the 5th minutes. The Eagles had a very poor build up to the encounter as a result of the FIFA suspension on Nigerian teams last week.
The Eagles travelled to Conakry for the match yesterday after FIFA gave Nigeria a temporary reprieve. But the Nigerian team could not improve on their three points in the qualifying series, as the Guineans scored an early goal, which they maintained till the end of the match.
Michael Eneramo, who was close to saving the day for Nigeria missed an opportunity to equalise 11 minutes to the end of the 1st half.
Instead of finishing up with a superb goal, the Esperance of Tunisia striker, who was face to face with Guniea’s goalkeeper, shot wide.
Although, Nigeria missed the services of key players like Mikel Obi and Osaze Odemwingie due to injuries, but the team’s regulars; Yusuf Ayila, Obinna Nsofor, Kalu Uche, Obafemi Martins, skipper Joseph Yobo, Taiye Taiwo, Chidi Odiah and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama featured in the match.
When the tie was going out of hand for Coach Eguavoen, he introduced John Owoeri and Ahmed Musa in the second half. Their inclusion brought a little bite into the attack but the substitues failed to make the expected changes in the final result against a determined Guniean side, who had thousands of their fans singing throughout the duration of the game.
Martins had a 75th minute chance to also level score, but his shot was parried over the bar by the host goalkeeper.
After the tie, Coach Michel Dussuyer, a 51-year-old Frenchman who is having his second spell in charge of Guinea, clapped his hands in appreciation of a great display by his team, while Coach Eguavoen left the venue a disappointed man.
Dussuyer was in charge of the Syli National from 2002 to 2004 during his first time, took charge of the French club AS Cannes and the Benin national team before returning as Guinea trainer to tinker them to the 2012 Nations Cup in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, Niger Republic made a giant stride in continental football today. After eliminating Nigeria from the African Nations Championships CHAN, the competition organised by CAF for the players in the local leagues in Africa, Niger defeated Egypt’s Pharaos 1-0 in a Nations Cup qualifier at the Seyni Kountché Stadium in Niamey.
The Six times African champions were stunned by a Niger side determined to write their names in continental football. The result came as a huge boost to Niger that are rated 154 the on the FIFA rankings. The defeat means that Egpyt, hot favourites in Group G of the qualifiers have only a point after two matches.
Other Nations Cup Results
Madagascar 0-1 Ethiopia
Central Africa 2-0 Algeria
Congo 3-1 Swaziland
Togo 1-2 Tunisia
Malawi 6-2 Chad
Uganda 0-0 Kenya
Congo DR 1-1 Cameroon
Angola 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
Rwanda 0-3 Benin
Senegal 7-0 Mauritius
Mali 2-1 Liberia
By Sunday Akintoye