By Peter Uwumarogie, Gombe/Victor Okoye, Garoua (Cameroon), Olanrewaju Akojede, Lagos,
Jan. 15, 2022
Some football fans in Gombe have expressed optimism that the Super Eagles could win Nigeria’s fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy after their 3 -1 win against Sudan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles on Saturday defeated Sudan 3 -1 to secure maximum six points from two games to top Group D.
Nigeria’s goals came through Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi and Moses Simon in the 3rd, 45th and 46th minutes respectively.
Walieldin Daiyeen’s 70th minute penalty kick secured Sudan’s maiden goal of the tournament in the game played at the Stadè Roumde Adjia, Garoua, Cameroon.
A cross-section of the fans in separate interviews with NAN in Gombe, applauded the players for sustaining their winning streak at the tournament.
Mr. Saidu Malala, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Gombe State Council, said the players and the technical team had done well and rekindled confidence of Nigerians.
Malala said the progressive wins being recorded by the Eagles had given Nigerians hope that “we can actually win this trophy in Cameroon.”
According to him, a fourth trophy for the country would help heal Nigeria of some of the challenges, especially in view of the pandemic.
He, however, warned the team against complacency or underrating any team as the tournament progressed.
Also, Mr. Abdulrazaq Mungadi, a Gombe-based journalist said the consecutive wins had given hope to Nigerians and “from what I watched today we have higher chances of winning this tournament.”
Mungadi said most predictions were in favour of the Super Eagles against other teams. “This is because we are improving on our matches which is key in every competition.”
He said that winning the trophy had done good to the country in the past and winning it now before the general elections in 2023 will help stabilise the country.
Mrs. Esther Adedeji, said scoring more goals than what the Eagles scored in their first match meant the team could improve and go far towards winning the trophy but “we must not be carried away.”
Adedeji advised the team to focus on addressing all loopholes especially in their defense to ensure that they don’t concede goals that could hamper the team’s chances of winning the trophy.
NAN also reports that Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980, 1994 and in 2013.
With the victory, the Super Eagles will advance to the knockout phase of the competition.
The early goal from Samuel Chukwueze in the 3rd minute provided a positive start and Taiwo Awoniyi netted the Super Eagles’ second on the stroke of half-time.
It took Moses Simon just 30 seconds of the second half to add the third, but Sudan pulled a goal back with a fortuitous penalty, converted by Walieldin Khedr with 20 minutes left.
The result means Nigeria stays on top of Group D and ensures that they progress to the knockout phase with a second successive victory.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, on Saturday said that the Super Eagles win came with a lot of excitement for him.
Akinwunmi in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also commended the positive attitude of the Eagles in their matches.
NAN reports that the Augustine Eguavoen-tutored team maintained their perfect start to the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon with an emphatic 3-1 win over the 1970 winners of the tournament.
The Group D’s almost one-sided match played at State Roumde Adjia in Garoua had the Eagles dominate the match against the Sudanese from the blast of the whistle.
The team took an early lead through Villarreal FC’s pacy winger, Samuel Chukwueze, who lashed into the net from a pass from Nantes FC winger, Moses Simon.
The three-time winners of AFCON, 1980, 1994 and 2013, also doubled the lead through Germany-based Union of Berlin Striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, in the 45th minutes.
The Eagles scored the third goal through Moses Simon’s solo run in a quick break after the second half whistle as he shot past the helpless Sudanese goalkeeper, Ali Abu-Eshrein, in the 46th minutes.
The Sudanese, however, got a consolation goal from a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) playback which adjudged Ola Aina to have fouled a Sudanese player.
Aina was subsequently punished with a yellow card from the South Africa referee, Victor Gomes.
The resultant penalty by Sudan’s Walieldin Khedr sent Okoye the wrong way to gift the Northeastern Country their first goal in the 2021 AFCON.
Speaking after the win, Akinwunmi, who is also Chairman Lagos Football Association (FA) told NAN that the team had been well motivated to win their matches.
“I am very happy with the win, we have said before the AFCON tournament that the team would approach the game one after the other.
“Fortunately, we now have a second win in our bag. We have told Nigerians that the boys are well motivated to do well in the tournament and they have been showing that.
“We need to win our next match to maintain the momentum. We also don’t want to push ourselves too far by predicting that the team will win the AFCON.
“We are happy with this win and look forward to the next match,” he said.
Nigeria, with a match to play in Group D, has now qualified for the knockout stage of AFCON 2021 after the host, Cameroun and Morocco.
