CHAN 2014 Qualifier: Can Eagles Survive Elephants’ Onslaught?

The Home-based Super Eagles will have their hands full when they confront Ivory Coast this Sunday in the return leg of the 2014 African Nations Championship, CHAN qualifier slated for Abidjan.

Two week ago, the team of local players in the Glo/Nigeria Premier League demolished Ivory Coast 4-1 in the first leg decided at the Ahmedu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

Although the result showed that the Eagles are on the verge of qualifying for their first ever 2014 African Nations Championship scheduled to hold early next year in South Africa.

Football analysts in Nigeria believed that the team will qualify because of the outcome of the the first leg.

Nigeria have never qualified for the tournament since its inception and this could be their first appearance if they can tame the Elephants. Although, Ivory Coast need three unreplied goals against Nigeria if they want to qualify for the championship.

In order to perform well in Abidjan, Head Coach Stephen Keshi has been preparing the team in Abuja for the crucial match.

Keshi called up 24 players to camp, with four of the players being new additions: Ganiyu Ogungbe, Rabiu Mohammed, Alhaji Gero and Osadinye Joseph. According to Keshi, only 20 players will make the trip to Abidjan, with four players dropped.

Soccer loving Nigerians who watched the first leg in Kaduna expressed confidence in the ability of the team, saying that Nigeria will not only qualify but they stand the better chance to win the title next year.

Despite the fact that his team beat Ivory Coast in Kaduna, Keshi said the players should not celebrate yet as the second leg will determine if the country will qualify for next year’s CHAN tournament.

Chibuzor Okonkwo, one of the longest serving players in the Eagles said he is confident that the team are capable of defeating Ivory Coast in Abidjan.

“When we go to Abidjan, we are not going there to defend. We will attack and at least score a goal. Who says we cannot beat them in their backyard because there is no way they can score four goals against us?”

He noted that the Elephants whose performance was overshadowed by the two red cards they got will play like wounded lions in the second leg.  “We have a very good team and all it takes to be in South Africa in January 2014, I don’t see Ivory Coast stopping us.”

Beyond Ivory Coast, Okonkwo said Nigeria will qualify for CHAN and go to South Africa as African champions. “We are not just going there to answer present. We will go there and bring the trophy.” Another Super Eagles player who dressed but did not see action, Dele Olorundare believes the 4-1 advantage from the first leg is enough to see Nigeria through.

“We can beat Ivory Coast in their home. All I have to say is victory.

We will go there and see to it that we qualify for CHAN,”he said.

The last Africa Nations Cup in South Africa, against all odds, Nigeria’s Super Eagles shamed the critics by winning the trophy after 19 years waiting.

—Sunday Akintoye