Can Eagles avert AFCON 2015 disaster?

Even with the victory over Sudan, the Super Eagles are not sure of qualifying for the championship because there are two more matches that would determine the fate of the Eagles.As it is, serious permutations are ongoing and even as most Nigerians are not confident the Eagles will still qualify, some are still hoping the […]

Even with the victory over Sudan, the Super Eagles are not sure of qualifying for the championship because there are two more matches that would determine the fate of the Eagles.
As it is, serious permutations are ongoing and even as most Nigerians are not confident the Eagles will still qualify, some are still hoping the Eagles will spring another surprise on the last day.
At the moment, the Eagles are third in their group on four points. Mathematically, Nigeria is not going to end with more than 10 points in the group while Congo, the second team in the group stands a good chance of ending with 13 points. Meanwhile, group leaders, South Africa on 8 points can end with as much as 14 points.
Super Eagles will play their next qualifying match against Congo before coming home to round up the qualifiers against South Africa. Eagles must pick the points against Congo and South Africa while praying for Congo to slip against Sudan in their last group match.
However, the barren draw played between South Africa and Congo on the night the Super Eagles secured their first maximum points in the qualifiers is a bad omen for the Eagles. The single point picked by Congo in South Africa can prove vital in the end. Had South Africa beaten Congo, they would have made it difficult for Congo to go beyond 10 points. However, as it is, the Congolese have got a breathing space and can easily knock out the Super Eagles.
Now, to stand any chance of qualifying, the Eagles must go to Congo for the maximum points. A draw will not suffice as even a win must be big enough to cancel out the head to head advantage presently held by the Congolese.
So Eagles will qualify easily, if they do themselves a favour by beating Congo hoping that Sudan would come to their aid by beating Congo. If that happens, Congo will get stuck at seven points while the Eagles would end on 10, if they beat South Africa in the final match.
However, it will be the end of the road for the Eagles if they lose in their next match against Congo. If the Congolese get the maximum points against Nigeria, they would have 10 points with a game in hand while Eagles will remain on four points with a game that will not yield anything more than additional three points. And so even if the Congolese lose away to Sudan, Congo with 10 points will land in Morocco.
As said earlier, a draw against Congo will not favour the Eagles because they will have five points while the Congolese will move to eight points. So even if Sudan beat Congo and Nigeria beat South Africa in the last group match, both countries will tie on eight points and Congo will qualify on the head to head rule.
In summary, it is tight for the Super Eagles but they can still qualify if Congo slips along the way and they do the necessary thing by winning their remaining matches. So as far as AFCON 2015 qualification is concerned, the life and death of the Super Eagles is in the hands of Congo and Sudan and last but not the least, the Eagles themselves.
Furthermore, to qualify, pundits have said the Eagles need some reorganisation. The reorganisation is said to have started with the change in guard which saw the end of Stephen Keshi’s reign as Eagles coach and the return of Amodu Shaibu.
With the fourth missionary journey of Amodu, it is expected that some of the players who were locked out by Keshi would have the opportunity to come and add value to the team.
Foremost on the list of players who may be recalled to the team is Villarreal of Spain striker Ikechukwu Uche who had a running battle with the former coach and was barred from the team.
Furthermore, players like Victor Moses and Babatunde Michael who were sidelined by injuries would be available for selection by the new coach. Apart from the duo, Amodu who is known for working with young and unknown players may quickly look around and pick some of the players who have been knocking at the door without luck.
His is likely going to give a chance to Fanendo Adi, the youngster who is currently banging in the goals in the Major Soccer League in America for Portland Timbers. The 23 year old former Copenhagen star has netted 12 times for his side
Moreover, it is said the victory over Sudan has lifted the spirit of the players and they would go all out for victories against Congo and South Africa.
Former Green Eagles captain, Christian Chukwu is confident that despite the 0-0 draw between South Africa and Congo, Nigeria can still beat Congo to the second ticket in the group.
The former Super Eagles handler said Nigeria must win all the remaining matches as any further slip will spell doom for the team.
“Personally, the 0-0 draw Congo played in South Africa is to Eagles advantage. Had they picked the three points, it would have been more difficult for the Eagles.
“ As it is, all the Eagles need do is to win all the remaining matches. They cannot afford to drop any point at this stage. To do this, they must buckle up and take the bulls by the horns.
Chukwu however acknowledged the fact that the Eagles are in a very tight corner. “There is no denying the fact that it is dicey. The Eagles must do something special to be in Morocco come 2015,” he said.