Super Eagles interim head coach Austine Eguavoen praised his players for their impressive performance in the 3-1 win against Sudan even as he admitted the opponent made life difficult for his team in the game, reports Completesports.com.
The three-time winners progressed to the last 16 of the competition after securing their second win of the competition.
The West Africans got off to a perfect start when Samuel Chukwueze slotted home Moses Simon’s perfect pass.
The Sudanese took control of the game afterwards, before Taiwo Awoniyi added the second goal for Nigeria on the stroke of half-time.
Man of the match Moses Simon netted the third a minute after the break.
Walieldin Khedr reduced the deficit for the Falcons of Jediane 20 minutes from time.
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“We are happy with this victory, it’s good for us that we are into second round after two games,”Eguavoen said during his intreaction with the media after the game.
“After our first goal, the Sudanese came out smoking and make things difficult for us. I wouldn’t want
to say it’s complacency.
”There are 24 teams here and there are chances for teams to make it to the second round. That makes Sudan gave their all in the game.
“You know when you have your back against the wall, there is the tendency that you want to fight hard and make things difficult for the opponent.
The Super Eagles remain top of Group D with six points from two games.
Eguavoen’s charges will take on the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau in the final group game on Wednesday.
By Adeboye Amosu in Garoua
12 Comments
Sudan didn’t make things difficult for us, the referee did.
No reason for the cancellation of Iwobi goal
Gave Aina yellow card when he was fouled
Blew whistle to Super Eagles disadvantage.
The Brian of the referee need to be checked.
Looool.
Even in women’s football, that is never a foul. The contact was just too minimal. 2 players putting their hands on each other. That’s football. It’s a contact sport. Yes, Aina tugged on the jersey a bit. But at this level, you have to do whatever to stop your opponent. Watch the way Serie A defenders defend. They will hold you, pull your jersey, drag you. It’s part of the game. You need to toughen up so you can withstand the challenges.
This ref Gomez will be awarding 10 penalties per game if he was a serie A ref!
Some of u guys u just critzie refs unneccessarily, the whistle was long gone before iwobi scire the goal, ihenacho was telling the ref that he did not hear the whistle that dies nit mean the ref did not blow the whistle secondly to confirm that the Sudanese goal keeper on a good day will not allow the ball to roll across his goal line if u watch carefully u will notice the keeper never made ant attempt to save the ball
Aina deserves the card it was clear penalty infact he intètiablly stepped on the guy while holding his jersey in fact he never even contested the card
Eguaveon you have exceeded my expectations with the performance of SE so far…….I have been impressed with the way your boys have played so far in this tournament……Keep up the good work because even the international community and neutral observers have been testifying to the changes they have seen in SE in this Afcon.
Very correct Akp. With what the whole World have seen so far, ‘Egua’ should lead the Nigeria Team to the World Cup. There is no need to change the winning team.
Imagine osihmen for Amoniyi in dis team,just imagine am
The NFF should have at least wait till after this tournament before appointing a new coach. NFF seems to be too rush in doing things and more so they don’t consult well. About the SE interim coach Austin Eguavon the man was able to go thus far because he had respect of the players and they play to his instructions
Eguaveon is a very good coach. Just within a month, he transformed a lacklustre-team into an enterprising, cohesive and purposeful team. He deserves all the recognition he’s getting. Imagine what he can achieve if he can coach Super Eagles for five years. May be a World Cup quarterfinal or beyond.
Oga, after a while currupt practices will set in.. See that salisu is there..bribes from Agent commences in a shot while..
Why is Dresser and Akpoguma not in Cameroon..? Laliga 2 and south Africa premiership players ahead of them in the pecking order
OK o..
What this team now needs is FINISHING.
We scored 3 goals today, which is good. But we wasted so many chances.
Against top teams, chances wasted will come back to bite us.
If Eguavoen can fix this finishing problem, the sky will be the beginning for this team.
We should not forget to give other coaches with the team their due respect. This is a collective effort, though Austin is the arrow head, other coaches should be commended too.
Eguavoen wears the crown, he deserved the praises and the blames, the other coaches would get their turn on the hot seat one day, for the moment its Eguaveon, let no one take his shine away from him.