ABUJA – Football fans in Calabar and FCT, Abuja have expressed disappointment over Super Eagles 1-0 loss to their Sudanese counterparts in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2015 qualifiers played in Khartoum.
The match played on Saturday night was the first-leg of the two-legged encounter between both teams.
Nigeria has very little chance of qualifying for the competition after a 2-3 home loss to the Republic of the Congo and a 0-0 draw against Bafana Bafana in South Africa.
The fans, who spoke with NAN in separate interviews in Abuja, said that the team had not done enough to impress their fans.
Benson Isaac, an artist, said that he was not happy that the team, as defending champions, could not compete well in the competition.
“I am not happy that they did not do well. They are not even good in set pieces.
“We don’t have a creative midfielder. The Sudanese really dealt with us and it was as if Eagles were searching for space.
“They have really disappointed me and I regret watching the match,” he said.
Femi Makinde, a trader, expressed sadness with the outcome of the match, adding that Keshi’s contract may not be renewed because of the loss.
“I had to close my shop in order to watch this match and imagine the kind of game they played.
“For me, Keshi’s contract should not be renewed. We are no longer seeing his impact in the team. I think he should be looking for a new job,” Makinde said.
James Musa, a publisher, said he had expected a different style of play from the team after their defeat by Congo in Calabar.
“I didn’t see any difference from what they normally play. I wonder what they do when they train.
“I think Keshi has only one pattern of play; he cannot switch to another style of play and it is really bad.
“The Eagles are already out of the championship. I don’t think there is anything they can still do to save the situation,” he said.
David Maude, a vendor in Abuja, said he was not surprised that the team lost, saying Eagles comprised of average players.
“I am not surprised that they did not win. The team consist of average players. Imagine the kind of game they played as if there was nothing as stake.
“The Sudanese have used Eagles to make history because this is the first time the Sudanese are gaining any point in this qualifier,” Maude said.
And in Calabar, Super Eagles fans described the away 1-0 defeat of the Eagles by the Sudanese, as a big blow.
One of them, Caleb David, told NAN that the chances of the Eagles qualifying for the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Morocco were slim.
“After three matches, the Eagles are bottom of group A with just one point, if we don’t introduce new techniques into our game, I am afraid the defending champions may not fly Nigeria’s flag in Morocco, come 2015.
“The only way the Eagles would have erased the shame of their defeat by Congo in Nigeria was to have defeated Sudan today but they failed to do so. [eap_ad_1] According to him, the Eagles have chances of scoring goals but failed to utilise them.
He said that the Sudan’s team was coordinated and was determined to win in their home soil.
Another fan, Mr Stephen Obun, expressed the belief that the Eagles would still qualify for the finals in Morocco in 2015 if Coach Stephen Keshi thinkers with the team.
He said the Sudanese team played well and deserved to win.
Obum urged the Eagles to improve on their scoring ability if things must turn around for the team in future. (NAN)
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