9th September, 2012
.Eagles Return After 2-2 Draw With Liberia
Tunde Oyedele
Nigeria’s Super Eagles returned to the country Sunday morning after they were held to 2-2 draw in a the first leg, last round qualifier for the 2013 African Cup of Nations in Monrovia last night.
Shortly after their arrival in Abuja today, the Eagles, who now have one leg in the finals of the Nations Cup, said they gave their best in the encounter.
“We just arrived in Abuja now, we will move to the team’s hotel after sorting out our luggages,” Coach Stephen Keshi told PMNEWS.
Keshi said the match in Monrovia was difficult for the Joseph Yobo-led Eagles, but expressed happiness that Nigeria managed to draw the tie.
“With the way the Liberians approached the match, I think our players did their best. The Eagles were leading till 65th minute, and almost defeated Liberia, but the home team fought back with an equaliser. All the same, the result is better than a loss,” Keshi said.
It was gathered that Yobo and other foreign-based players departed for their various destinations from the Abuja Airport, while Keshi, the home-based players and other officials have checked in at their Hotel camp in Abuja.
The highly motivated Lone Star stretched the Eagles to the limit, as Sekou Oliseh scored a vital equaliser for them in the 66th minute of the explosive tie in Monrovia last night.
Omega Roberts scored Liberia’s first goal in the 8th minute, before the Eagles replied with two quick goals through
Nosa Igiebor in the 14th minute, and Ikechukwu Uche netted a penalty, after Chelsea’s new signing, Victor Moses was fouled in the box.
Sekou Oliseh however equalised for the hosts in the 66th minute, as the match ended 2-2 in Monrovia.
Sekou Oliseh is incidentally a nephew of former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh. He was adopted by Sunday’s elder brother, Churchill.
The second leg of the African Cup of Nations qualifier holds in Calabar, Nigeria on 14 October.
The Eagles need a win, a 1-1 or 0-0 draw to book their place at South Africa 2013 finals.
AFCON 2013 Results:
Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
CIV 4-2 Senegal;
Cape Verde 2-0 Cameroon;
Mali 3-0 Botswana;
Sudan 5-3 Ethiopia;
S/Leone 2-2 Tunisia;
Ghana 2-0 Malawi