Eagles victory a relief for Keshi

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Joseph Dosu has
revealed that the Super Eagles 3-1 win against
Sudan on Wednesday evening is a great tonic to
ease the enormous tension on coach Stephen
Keshi.
Going into the game against Mohamed Abdalla‘s
side, the former Mali and Togo handler had face
a barrage of criticisms following his side’s poor
streak in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
qualifying series where they were able to manag
just a point in three games.
According to the Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold
medalist, the Eagles should focus on winning the
last two games to stand a chance of reaching
next year’s African football showpiece.
"We wanted the victory badly, but then we’re still
behind Congo and South Africa. With this, we
hope to beat Congo away then return home and
defeat South Africa,” Dosu told Goal.
"Let’s see how it goes but the most important
thing now is to win our remaining two games to
stand a chance of qualifying for the 2015 Africa
Cup of Nations in Morocco, but the most
important thing is this victory.
"Lawal did very well in the midfield and Onazi
playing from [right back]. All the same, the
combination between Mikel and Lawal was okay
in the midfield. If the team continues this way,
they might blend together,” he continued.
He however commended the Falcons of Jediane
players for giving the African champions a good
fight.
"I must confess that the Sudanese were more
coordinated than the Super Eagles. They held
onto the ball, passed the ball without stress and
they were able to move freely from the defence t
the middle down to the attack.
Dosu said that the victory will ease the pressure
on Keshi's job even though questions still remain
about the 52-year-old's position.
"For now, I think it will bring the tension down
because everybody will relax a bit and see how
other games go but I think it's good for [Keshi]
he won because if the game had ended in a draw
or defeat, that could have been the end as Eagle
coach.
"As it stands now, the tension would go down
though whether he continues or not remains the
question but I can assure you that he will be
given the benefit of doubt to be in charge and it
is good his team won today," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles chances of qualification
got a big boost as South Africa were held to a
0-0 draw at home by Congo.

We are in Nigeria to win - Sudan coach Mohamed Abdalla

The Falcons of Jediane's trainer has said his side
is ready to pick all the three points in the home
of the reigning champions in the Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier today
Head coach of Sudan national team, Mohamed
Abdalla has said his team are anxious for a two-
leg win when they face Nigeria in a 2015 Africa
Cup of Nations qualifier in Abuja on Wednesday.
Sudan defeated the African champions 1-0 in
Khartoum on Saturday through Barki Almadina
after losing their first two opening games in the
qualifiers for next year's 16-nation tournament.
Abdalla insisted that the Falcons of Jediane are
desperate for a second victory over Stephen
Keshi's men in a bid to revive their campaign to
reach the finals in Morocco.
He said they will not allow the Super 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 fo
Muslims, which meant that the players were still
weak,” Abdalla was quoted by Africanfootball.
“We know what to expect because Nigeria is
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 concluded.
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 wit
seven and six points respectively.