The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria vs Sudan

  • AFCON: Nigeria defeats Sudan 3-1

    … Musa and Aaron Samuel on target for Super Eagles

    Super Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday evening defeated the Sudanese national team 3-1 in the 2015 African Nations Cup qualifier played at the Abuja National Stadium.

    Three second half goals by Ahmed Musa (48th and 89th minute) and debutant Aaron Samuel (66th minute) secured the three points for the African champions.

    The Sudanese lone goal was scored by Salah Ibrahim in the 56th minute.

    With this victory, Nigeria now has four points from four matches, while the East Africans remain on three points.

    South African leads the group with seven points, followed by Congo on six.

    The country’s last two matches in the AFCON qualifier would be played in November.

     

  • AFCON qualifier: Akpan, Samuel in Eagles’ starting XI

    AFCON qualifier: Akpan, Samuel in Eagles’ starting XI

    Reading midfielder Hope Akpan and China-based striker Aaron Samuel will start for Nigeria against Sudan in Wednesday’s African Nations Cup qualifier in Abuja, africanFootball.com reports.

    It will be their full international debuts for Nigeria.

    The first choice fullbacks Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile, have been dropped with Ogenyi Onazi now to start at right back for the first time since AFCON 2013.

    Coach Stephen Keshi has also picked Turkey-based midfielder Raheem Lawal ahead of Nosa Igiebor, who started the reverse fixture in Khartoum at the weekend.

    CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa, who was a major injury doubt for this make-or-mar match, has recovered from a knock he picked up in Sudan and will start again for the African champions.

    Starting XI

     

    Vincent Enyeama – Ogenyi Onazi, Juwon Oshaniwa, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona – Mikel Obi, Raheem Lawal, Hope Akpan, Ahmed Musa – Aaron Samuel, Emmanuel Emenike

  • AFCON: Enyeama, Lawal assure on Eagles’ victory

    AFCON: Enyeama, Lawal assure on Eagles’ victory

    Super Eagles stars Vincent Enyeama and Raheem Lawal have restated that the team will defeat Sudan in Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier in Khartoum.

    The Sudan and Nigeria tie will kick off at 8pm Sudanese time, which is 6pm Nigerian time, africanFootball.com reports.

    Enyeama, who missed last month’s qualifiers, said the team will cope with the local conditions in Sudan.

    “We are professionals and we should be able to cope with any situation we see in Sudan,” said the Lille shot stopper.

    “We know it would be very hot, but there is nothing we can do about it. We know what is ahead of us and what is expected of us, so we would go there and do our best.”

    Similarly, Turkey-based Lawal has boasted that Sudan cannot stop Nigeria in this crucial AFCON qualifier.

    Lawal, who is making a return to the Eagles, noted: “If South Africa and Congo could beat Sudan, then Nigeria would also beat Sudan.

    “I am very confident that we would pocket six points from these two games. Sudan cannot stop us.”

    The reverse fixture is billed for Wednesday in Abuja with the final rounds of matches fixed for next month.

  • AFCON: Salami wants total support for Eagles

    AFCON: Salami wants total support for Eagles

    Warri Wolves striker, Gbolahan Salami, has called on Nigerians to support the Super Eagles as the team seeks to beat Sudan in Khartoum in Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

    Salami, who scored Nigeria’s goal in the ill-fated 2-3 loss to the Red Devils of Congo in Calabar wants the fans to support the team in every way possible.

    “I’m imploring all Nigerians and our fans to support us with prayers and also believe in us so that we can go out there and win,” he told supersport.com.

    “We are going there to win definitely and I am sure that we’ll be in Morocco by January.

    “We need everyone’s support and prayers,” he added..

    Salami has scored 15 goals for Warri Wolves this season in the Glo Premier League.

  • Moses’ injury worries Keshi

    Moses’ injury worries Keshi

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has expressed worry over the recent injury picked up by Stoke City winger, Victor Moses.

    Moses was injured in Stoke’s 1-3 defeat to Sunderland in the Barclays English Premier League on Saturday, supersport.com reports.

    He provided the assist for Stoke’s solitary goal at the Stadium of Light, before he was forced off by the injury.

    He is now a huge doubt for Nigeria’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Sudan.

    Keshi in a chat with supersport.com expressed concern about the injury and expressed hope that it is not as serious as many people thought.

    “I was naturally worried to see him (Moses) get injured (on Saturday). He’s been in good form and I just hope that the injury is not that serious because we need him for those important games against Sudan,” he told supersport.com.

     

  • AFCON: Osunwa warns Eagles on Sudan

    AFCON: Osunwa warns Eagles on Sudan

    Ismaily of Egypt striker, Kelechi Osunwa, has warned the Super Eagles not to take Sudan for granted when both teams clash in the decisive 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers this month.

    Sudan hosts the African champions on October 11, with the reverse fixture taking place four days later in Abuja.

    It is a must-win for Nigeria after Super Eagles managed only a point from the first two matches against Congo and South Africa last month, africanFootball.com reports.

    Osunwa played in Sudan for the country’s top two clubs Al Hilal and Al Merriekh for eight years and has cautioned that Sudan parade players mainly from the local league and will prove formidable because the players take part in international football with their clubs every year.

    “Nigeria can beat Sudan because their national team comprises of local players, but they are used to African football because most of the players feature in CAF competitions yearly. That is the reason they will be tough and dangerous, and so the Eagles cannot afford to underrate the East Africans,” he told africanFootball.com.

    Incidentally, Osunwa was named in Sudan preliminary squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations staged in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

    The former Dolphins of Port Harcourt star also told africanFootball.com he has settled down at his new Egyptian club.

    “Ismaily is fine and I am trying to cope at my new team,” he said.