The Super Eagles yesterday won their first match since defeating Bosnia Herzegovina 1-0 at the World Cup after struggling to beat a determined Sudanese side 3-1 in the Match Day 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
It now put an end to a five match winless streak, it was the first time the team doubled a lead since beating Ethiopia 2-0 last year November 16.
The Super Eagles will still have to win their remaining two matches, one away to Congo and the other at home with South Africa. That feat will possibly give Nigeria a tickle as either second place side of Group A or the lucky third placed side.
The relief to the crowd yesterday was so much that they invaded the pitch to celebrate a difficult, but won game.
The Sudanese belied their under dog status as they seemed to have come for a win and move to six points. Agile and skillful they contested every ball and gave the more experienced Super Eagles a run for their money.
The Nigerian side opened with a flurry of attack that it seemed a goal or two will go in before a quarter of an hour. It was not to be. Gradually, the determined Sudanese side fought gamely and even made some sporadic attacks.
By the 25th minute, the heavens poured down its liquid content, leading to kick and rush. Precision taking of shots became a near impossibility as the pitch became slippery.
The game turned a ding dong affair, especially as Sudanese forward, Bakri Abdelgadir became a thorn in the Eagles’ flesh. Surprisingly, more often than not, Abdelgadir, who operated from the left side of the attack was left unmarked. He nearly caused havoc on the dot of 45 minutes, when his point blank shot missed target by inches.
He was to contribute to Sudan’s solitary goal in the 56th minute when he laid a pass to Salah Ibrahim to take a rising shot that hit the roof of the Nigerian net.
Before then, birthday boy, Musa Ahmed had shot Nigeria ahead barely three minutes into the second half. The crowd went ecstatic. But their joy was soon doused when eight minutes later, Sudan leveled up.
Aaron Samuel Olanare restored Nigeria’s lead in the 66th minute. The Sudanese came out again in full force, attempting to level up again. It was not to be as Ahmed Musa, obviously the match hero dribbled and dribbled his way into the Sudanese box before unleashing a low drive that sealed the Sudanese fate.
Contrary to expectation, the scanty crowd cheered the Super Eagles as they filed out for pre match warm up. The Sudanese were the ones to receive mild boos. An hour to the kick off, the attendance was barely one-tenth of the 60,000 capacity stadium despite the gates being thrown open.
