Nigeria. Afcon 2015 qualifier. Nigeria suffer shock Afcon defeat to Congo Brazzaville

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Nigeria. Afcon 2015 qualifier.

Nigeria suffer shock Afcon defeat to Congo Brazzaville  

 

Congo Brazzaville produced a shock victory in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, beating Nigeria 3-2 in their Group A match in Calabar.

It is the first time Nigeria have lost a competitive home game in 33 years.

The Super Eagles fell apart in quite extraordinary fashion in Calabar - a reflection perhaps of the chaos engulfing Nigerian football at the moment.

Elsewhere on Saturday, there were also away wins for Cameroon, Algeria and Cape Verde on a day when 11 group qualifiers were scheduled across the continent.

Nigeria, the reigning African champions, took the lead against Congo after 13 minutes when Efe Ambrose's header managed to find a way past Congo goalkeeper Massa Chansel.

But the lead did not last long as Prince Oniangue took advantage of some slack marking and equalised for the Red Devils two minutes later.

It was a tricky game played on a bumpy pitch which made ball-control nearly impossible.

As Nigeria struggled to find drive and creativity, disaster struck.

Just moments after goalkeeper Austin Ejide had done well to keep out a superb free kick by Francis Nganga, the visitors went in front on 40 minutes when Thievy Bifouma (pictured) finished off a fine move.

Bifouma struck again in the 53rd minute when he converted a penalty awarded when he was fouled by Ogenyi Onazi inside the box.

Gbolahan Salami then gave the home side a glimmer of hope when he reduced the arrears with less than five remaining.

But the Red Devils held on for a famous victory.

Nigeria captain Austin Ejide admitted they lost to a better side.

"They dominated and deservedly won. We underrated them and paid dearly. They were more aggressive and played like the home side here. A poor performance on our part."

As for Congo's Thievy Bifouma, who netted two goals for his country, he was proud of their performance.

"We worked hard. We knew we were facing a big side in Africa and we played our own game and we are proud of ourselves. We need to focus on Sudan on Wednesday now."

The onus is now on the Super Eagles to go for a must win tie in Wednesdays game against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa to give them a chance of qualification for the 2015 Afcon championship.

FANS REACTION.

FactNews went to town to get  fans’ views on the Super eagles defeat at the hand of the Congolese. An Aba based football commentator, Mr Anayo Nwogu, is of the view that the Super eagles can still qualify for the 2015 Afcon game if the Nigerian Football Federation can put its house in order before the next match against South Africa\s bafana bafana, on Wednesday. According to his words, ‘’failure to do so the super eagles should as well bid the 2015 afcon game, bye. It is quite difficult to achieve success when your house is on fire, he said.

Another fan, Mr Eme Ikoro, was of the view that Nigeria would still qualify despite this setback. He is of the view that the Bafana bafana, despite their brilliant start, would be the team to bear the brunt. He is confident that the reverse fixture, Congo vs Nigeria, would be a different story as the Eagles now know that any further lapses on their part may spell doom for them.

Despite these views, it is now realized that there are no more minors in African football. Gone are days when victory is achieved without adequate preparation. The Super Eagles had very little preparation before their tie against the Congolese. We are of the view that the Nigerian Eagles will do well in future games.

Saturday's 2015 qualifiers results so far:

  • DR Congo 0-2 Cameroon
  • Ethiopia 1-2 Algeria
  • Zambia 0-0 Mozambique
  • Nigeria 2-3 Congo Brazzaville
  • Gabon 1-0 Angola
  • Burkina Faso 2-0 Lesotho
  • Ghana 1-1 Uganda
  • Niger 1-3 Cape Verde
  • Ivory Coast 2-1 Sierra Leone
  • Mali vs Malawi (postponed)
  • Tunisia 2-1 Botswana

NFF Presidency: Giwa ‘sues’ FIFA, vows to defy deadline

 

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF’s factional president, Chris Giwa, is suing the world football governing body, FIFA, over its threat to suspend Nigeria if Mr. Giwa fails to vacate office by Monday.

Mr. Giwa’s representative said Sunday a case has been filed at the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS, in Switzerland to stop FIFA from interfering in Nigerian football affairs.

Details of the suit could not be immediately confirmed.

“Delegates on behalf of Chris Giwa has taken the matter to CAS because that is the only recognised football court, he is waiting for them to decide and call FIFA to other and stop their ban threats, he’s the rightful President of the NFF so we will wait and see, they don’t have the power to ban us over internal crisis,” said Ben Agary, an assistant to Mr. Giwa.

Mr. Giwa heads a faction of the Nigerian football body, rocked by leadership crisis for months between Mr. Giwa and Aminu Maigari who has been in charge for years.

Mr. Maigari says he remains in charge until an election he supervises as his tenure comes to an end September.

Mr. Giwa’s claim to the office has been rejected by FIFA, which has threatened to suspend Nigeria if he fails to step down by Monday.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday ahead of the deadline, Ben Agary, an assistant to Mr. Giwa, said he will not vacate his seat because he is the rightful president of the federation.

Mr. Agary said the sports court in Switzerland will determine the case and stop FIFA from suspending Nigeria.

“How can he leave? Giwa is going nowhere and will not leave that seat, as I’m talking to you right now he is attending to the Team in Calabar to ensure they are well prepared before their departure for South Africa where they will continue their AFCON 2015 qualifier,” Mr. Agary said

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Premier League Club Owners has suspended former NPL chairman, Rumsom Baribote, and two others for accepting to serve on the Interim League committee set up by Mr. Giwa.

Along with Mr. Baribote, chairman of FC Taraba and Premier League stakeholder, Fatai Olayinka, was suspended Sunday.

The club owners also has suspended FC Taraba, Nembe City and Crown FC from all league matches, accusing the three of anti-association activities.

“It would be recalled that the affected member- clubs disregarded the directive of the Club Owners by accepting membership of an Interim League committee which contradicted with the position and stand of the association, they are hereby suspended,” said a statement signed by the Club Owners Acting Chairman, Issac Danladi, and the Acting Secretary, Alloy Chukwuemeka.

 


Source: Nigeria football News

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