By Samuel Gacharira,
Defending Africa champions, The Super Eagles of Nigeria find themselves in a precarious position where they have to win all of their remaining four games if they are to qualify for Afcon 2015 in Morocco. They visit Sudan at the Khartoum Stadium this weekend in a bid to rekindle the hopes of their optimistic fans.
Sudan lie bottom in the group and are yet to score a goal this campaign. They lost their first two games; 3-0 to South Africa at home and 2-0 away to Congo. Nigeria are third with 1 point after losing their opening match 3-2 to Congo at home and later secured a barren draw away to South Africa.
Nigeria has only lost once to Sudan, back then in 1969.They have emerged victorious in six games and have drawn four times. The last time Sudan hosted Nigeria in 2001 they were whacked 4-0 and the story was more or less the same in their last encounter as the Super Eagles emerged 2-0 winners in January 2008 in an Afcon Group C match.
Stephen Keshi is taking no chances and has recalled Victor Moses and Vincent Enyeama for this must win encounter. Clearly, the pressure is on Nigeria as anything less than three points from this tie will scuttle their chances of qualifying to the finals.
Sudan coach Mohammed Mazda has however expressed optimism going into this fixture and believes the underdog tag will work to their favor. He insists history cannot win a football match and hopes for a positive result that will catapult them from the lower reaches of the standings.
Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com
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