AFCON 2015 QUALIFIER: Sudan sinks Eagles in Khartoum

Nigeria’s hope of de­fending her title at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco got slimmer yester­day after the Super Eagles were stunned 0-1 by the Jediane Falcons of Sudan.

It was Sudan’s first victory over Nigeria since the East African nation won 4-0 in the first international football between both countries on November 28, 1963. Nigeria had won six out of their 11 previous clashes while both sides settled for draws four times.

Hitherto the weeping team in Group A of the 2015 AF­CON qualifiers, Sudan seized the initiative in the early minutes of yesterday’s en­counter but Nigeria’s defence absorbed the pressure with discipline to keep goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama on holiday for the better part of the first half.

But it was the Super Eagles that had the first chance to go in front in the 10th minute after a beautiful ball from John Obi Mikel found Ahmed Musa whose low drive into the Sudanese box located Nosa Igiebor but the Real Betis of Spain midfielder’s shot hit the woodwork and Elderson Echiejile failed to make haste with the rebound to the relief of the Sudanese.

Nigeria got another clear chance in the 17th minute when Emmanuel Emenike came one-on-one with the Sudanese keeper but could not get the ball past him. Ahmed Musa wasted another chance to put Nigeria in front in the 27th minute when he had only the goalkeeper to beat but looked too nervous to make the most of the op­portunity.

The Sudanese, however, got their chance against the run of play in the 44th minute after great work from the right side and Babeker Bakri buried his header past En­yeama for their first goal of the final qualifying series.

Nigeria came out flying in the second half as Ambrose tested Sudan’s goalkeeper and Mikel’s follow-up went out for a corner kick that was wasted.

Stephen Keshi threw on Emmanuel Sunday and Raheem Lawal in a bid to get Nigeria back in the game but their introduction did not yield the much-needed results.

Sudan’s defence held out for a famous win despite Nigeria’s best effort and a Mikel’s disallowed goal to chalk up its first full points in the qualifiers.

Nigeria is now placed last in the group with just one point from three matches and the Super Eagles will host Sudan on Wednesday at the National Stadium in Abuja

South Africa earlier on stunned Congo 2-0 away in Pointe Noire to leap-frog above the Congolese to top spot in the group with seven points.

Source: The Sun