AFCON 2015 QUALIFIERS: Eagles Walk Tight Rope with Goalless Draw in Cape Town

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Super eagles

Super Eagles failed in their bid to pick maximum points off the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Cape Town last night with a scoreless result that has now thrown spanners into Nigeria’s defence of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) won in the rainbow nation last year.

The Red Devils of Congo who defeated Eagles in Calabar last weekend consolidated on their good ride in the AFCON 2015 qualifiers with a 2-0 home win against Sudan to top Group A with six points. South Africa with an earlier victory over the same Sudan are second with four points leaving Nigeria at the third with just a point from two games. Sudan is at the rear with no point.

Bafana Bafana created the first chance of the game in the sixth minute as Mandla Masango’s cross from the right of the box was deflected into the path of Manyisa, who shot on target but saw his effort well blocked by Efe Ambrose.

The home team looked the more fluent of the two sides in attack, though lone striker Bongani Ndulula was often left a little isolated and struggled to have any influence on the game despite his admirable industry.

Super Eagles created nothing more than half chances, the best of which fell to Nosa Igiebor in the 36th minute, only for the attacker to shoot off target under pressure from Bafana Bafana’s defence.

However, in Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike, the Super Eagles had arguably the two most dangerous players on the pitch. However, they weren’t receiving particularly good service from their midfield, mainly due to good work from the likes of Andile Jali and Dean Furman.

Eagles nearly broke the deadlock with just 10 minutes to play in the second half when Musa’s cross from the right found substitute Christian Osaguona. He headed on target, but Erick Mathoho positioned himself brilliantly to clear off the goal line.

Tokelo Rantie then had the best chance of the match, using his pace to sprint in behind the Eagles’ defence and find himself one-on-one with Austin Ejide, but the goalkeeper made a fine save to keep the score line blank.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria who took the kick off at about 7:00pm Nigeria time hardly created any meaningful chance through out the duration of the match. The South Africans were more creative as the match dragged on. All through the first 45 minutes the Super Eagles hardly had a good shot on target. Half goal scoring chances kept coming the way of the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

The worst culprit of the night was Chelsea’s Mikel Obi who most of the time gave away the ball to the opponent. Emmanuel Emenike lacked the skill of a striker, exhibiting much flatness. Ahmed Musa was also a shadow of himself, operating from the right side of the field.

The Eagles started the second half of the match brilliantly but soon fizzled out, allowing the much determined South African to dictate the pace of the game and almost got the curtain raiser in the 59th minute. A one-two combination between Onazi and Emenike in front of the South Africa’s box yielded no dividend. In the 81st minute the Bafana bafana had the best chance of the match their striker had a one on one with Ejide. The Eagles’ keeper saved the situation.

Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi needs to look for an attacking midfielder to support the attack as Mikel and Onazi are both defensive minded in style of play. With a point at hand from two matches the Eagles can still qualify if positive changes are brought to the team.

South Africa: Meyiwa, Ngcongca, Hlatshwayo, Mathoho, Matlaba, Jali, Furman, Masango (Zwane 82’), Vilakazi, Manyisa, Ndulula (Rantie 46’)

Nigeria: Ejide, Echiejile, Ambrose, Omeruo, Oboabona, Onazi, Mikel, Igiebor (Aluko 71’), Musa, Salami (Osaguona 63’), Emenike

RESULTS

S’ Africa 0-0 Nigeria

Congo 2-0 Sudan

Egypt 0-1 Tunisia

Botswana 0-2 Senegal

Angola 0-3 Burkina Faso

Togo 2-3 Ghana

Lesotho 1-1 Gabon

Cameroun 4-1 Cote d Ivoire

Mozambique 1-1 Niger

Cape Verde 2-1 Zambia

Sierra Leone 0-2 Congo DR

Malawi 3-2 Ethiopia

 Nigerian refs call off strike


The Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) has ended the withdrawal of its men from league matches in the country that lasted for two weeks.

The referees body in a letter to the NFF on Wednesday, stated that referees are now "ready to officiate all matches organised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect."

"The working committee of the Nigeria (Football) Referees Association (NRA) directed me to inform you that, sequel to the prevailing circumstances that existed in the football house following the resumption of your good self into the office, the Nigeria Referees is hereby ready to officiate all matches organised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect," the NRA secretary-general, Prince Moroof Oyekunle Oluwa, stated in the letter.

The League Management Company (LMC) had also announced through its Twitter account that the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will resume on September 17. It had initially informed that the top flight will resume this Sunday before stating that the September 17 date has "now been firmed up with all parties."

The Nigerian top flight is expected to resume with Match Day 26 games after two weeks of no activity after referees withdrew their services citing the governance crisis rocking the NFF.


Source: Nigeria football News

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