15th October, 2014
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Falcons of Jediane of Sudan go to war at the Abuja National Stadium Wednesday’s evening in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
Nigeria goes into this game with Sudan knowing full well that anything short of a win will mean an end to Nigeria’s defence of the Africa Nations Cup trophy the Super Eagles won at the last edition in South Africa.
The cracker certainly will be a must win for Stephen Keshi’s Eagles, while Sudan, basking in the 1-0 win in the reverse leg in Khartoum on Saturday will come into the encounter buoyed with confidence to earn more points off the Nigerian team.
“We are condemned to win this match at all costs,” said Nosa Igiebor of Maccabi Haifa FC, Israel player, even just as Ahmed Musa of CSKA Moscow, Russia player vowed that he would score goals to mark his birthday.
Coach Keshi urged football fans not boo his boys during the match, saying “if the fans boo the players during the game, they should just forget about the Nation’s Cup ticket because there is no way the boys will give their best in such an atmosphere.”
Former Flying Eagles’ coach, Tunde Disu (OFR) said the result in Khartoum on Saturday has put the Eagles in a precarious situation, which necessitates that they must beat Sudan in Abuja today. “They are in a serious dilemma to win this match,” he said.
Head coach of Sudan national team, Mohamed Abdalla insisted his team are desperate for a second victory over Keshi’s men in a bid to revive their campaign to reach the finals in Morocco, adding that they will not allow the Eagles any chance of securing a victory in Nigeria.
“We started the campaign on a wrong note losing 3-0 to South Africa, but this was all because of the impact of coming out of the fasting period for Muslims, which meant that the players were still weak,” Abdalla was quoted by Africanfootball.
“We know what to expect because Nigeria is at the bottom of the table and badly need to get a win. But we shall not give them that room to do what they want to do,” he said.
Sudan will face an uphill task against Nigeria, who seek redemption in their qualifiers for Morocco 2015 to defend their title.
Sudan are third with three points, while Nigeria with a point sit at the base of the Group A table. South Africa and Congo are first and second with seven and six points respectively.