19th January, 2014
Taiwo Adelu
Ahead of Nigeria’s must-win match against South Africa in their final group A match Sunday at the ongoing 2014 African Nations Championship, CHAN, in South Africa, Nigerians living in South Africa are mobilising support for the national team.
Nigeria’s Home Eagles currently third with three points from two matches in the group, need a victory to be sure of advancing to the next round, while a draw for South Africa is enough for the team to reach the knockout stage.
A draw will also be sufficient for second-placed Mali against bottom team Mozambique, also on Sunday.
The fact that Nigeria will be taking on the hosts has raised the stakes.
But the President of the Nigerian Union in Johannesburg, Ikechukwu Anyaene, told News Afrique, a Pan African News Agency, PANA, that there is no cause for alarm as his union had rallied Nigerians living in South Africa to ensure maximum support for the home-based Super Eagles.
“The match has already been tagged final before the final. We have mobilised Nigerians so that the Eagles will not lack support in the stadium,” he said.
Anyaene said in addition to mobilising support, the union has also organised prayers for the team’s success.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana lead group A on 4 points, same as Mali which are second due to their lower goals aggregate.
Mozambique, the group’s whipping boys, are last without a point, having lost their two matches so far.
The contest for the two quarter-final tickets from the group is tough because all the top three teams (South Africa, Mali and Nigeria), still have a chance to advance.
Nigeria and South Africa last clashed in Durban last year in the Mandela Challenge with Nigeria 2-0 winners courtesy of a brace by Uche Nwofor.
Kick-off time for Sunday’s last group game of the 2014 CHAN in Group A is 6pm Nigerian time.