Eagles, Etalons Tango in Kaduna
Fresh from soul-lifting progress into the final elimination
round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification series, African champions Nigeria
and African vice champions Burkina Faso clash in a high-profile international
friendly at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Tuesday evening.
The Super Eagles did the expected by seeing off Malawi 2-0
in Calabar in one of the final matches of Africa’s group phase attrition on
Saturday, meaning they reach the 10-team final battle easily, consigning the
Flames to seven points and second place in the pool.
Only group winners are eligible for the Draw in Cairo on
Monday next week.
Despite being docked points for fielding an ineligible
player earlier in the campaign, the Etalons picked up efficiently, winning in
Niger and Congo-Brazzaville before pipping Gabon 1-0 in Ouagadougou on Saturday
to finish top of their pool.
Scenes of supreme glee took over the streets of Ouagadougou
and other major Burkinabe cities on Saturday after news filtered in that rivals
Congo could only draw in Niamey, leaving the Etalons to emerge group winners.
On Sunday, the Super Eagles flew into Abuja and then
connected Kaduna immediately. They are expected to train at the Ahmadu Bello
Stadium on Monday.
First half stoppage-time goal by Emmanuel Emenike, who
connected an intelligent chip from Ogenyi Onazi, and a smartly-converted
penalty by Victor Moses six minutes into the second period, took the wind off
the sails of the Malawians and sent the full house at the U. J. Esuene Stadium
into raptures.
Governor Liyel Imoke, CON, Director General of the National
Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Senator Adamu Gumba (Senate Commitee
on Sports chairman), Hon. Godfrey Gaiya (House Committee on Sports chairman),
NFF President Aminu Maigari and representative of Otunba (Dr) Mike Adenuga Jnr
of Globacom, Charles Genarius and Members of the NFF Executive Committee and
Management watched from the State Box as the Super Eagles played a calm,
confident and sure-footed game on a wet pitch.
Maigari gave kudos to the African champions as his Board
countenances a ticket to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals to add to a
litany of achievements and accomplishments in the past three years.
“The boys deserve commendation for the way and manner they
approached the match. At no time did it look like they would allow Malawi into
the game. They played with confidence and assurance. That is the stuff of
champions.
“I have no doubt that we will earn the ticket to the 2014
FIFA World Cup finals.”
NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, said on Sunday: “The
Nigeria Football Federation has arranged the match against Burkina Faso to
prepare the Super Eagles for the final elimination round, which comes up in
October and November. We expect to play our first leg away and then play the
return at home.
“We are truly delighted to be in the final round, and we
believe the Super Eagles will do the nation proud by picking one of the five
tickets to represent Africa at next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.”
Tuesday’s game is a sort of replica of the 2013 Africa Cup
of Nations final, which the Super Eagles dominated and eventually won 1-0 in
Soccercity, Johannesburg.
If there are no changes at the top of the African table in
the FIFA rankings to be released on Thursday, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Algeria,
Nigeria and Cape Verde (who shocked Tunisia in Rades) will be in the Pot A
(seeded teams) for the 10-team final elimination round Draw in Cairo on Monday
next week, while Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Senegal and Ethiopia will be in
Pot B.
The Super Eagles can only be drawn against any of the teams
in Pot B.
Source: Daily Times
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