By Ikeddy ISIGUZO
A new coach weeks to AFCON 2021, players who did not get enough time together, COVID-19 disruptions, Nigeria’s chances at Africa’s masterpiece football event never looked dimmer. Then a look at the fixtures!
The opener against Egypt was a major concern. Mo Salah, currently one of the best attackers on the world, was a marked as burden on the flight of the Super Eagles. He had minimal impact on the game Nigeria won 1-0 on Tuesday.
Super Eagles’ wastefulness in front of goal and the near total control of the game did not reflect in the scores. The Eagles were a delight to watch.
Interim coach Austin Eguavoen was in charge. Super Eagles soared in ways not seen in years. The result has thrown up the Eagles among the favourites for the Cup Nigeria last won 11 years ago.
Saturday’s tie with Sudan should ordinarily be a stroll for the Super Eagles but there are no more minions in the game as Sierra Leone proved in holding defending champions Algeria to a goalless draw. A victory over Sudan throws Super Eagles into the quarter-finals, leaving the last match with Guinea-Bissau as mere formality.
Nigerians have been gushing over Kelechi Iheanacho’s 30th minute goal that cast blurs on Egypt’s ambitions. They have shared their joys between the victory and the emerging Super Eagles who played, more importantly caged Salah. They have awarded Eguavoen high marks for the performance that dripped with high moments of exhilarations.
Elsewhere in AFCON, hosts Cameroun have qualified for quarter-finals after an emphatic 4-1 defeat of Ethiopia who jumped to the lead in only four minutes. Cameroun, four-time champions, had won their opening match against Burkina Faso 2-1. Cameroun have accounted for six of the 18 goals scored after Thursday’s matches.
Vincent Aboubakar is leading the hunt for the highest goal scorer. His two hits in each of the two matches put his tally at four. The competition has been low in goals.
High drama made its way to the pitch on Wednesday when high profile Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe, referee of the 2017 AFCON final in Gabon, mishandled the Group F game between Mali and Tunisia.
Sikazwe, 42, incorrectly called for full-time twice at the 85th minute, and again before the 90th minute with about 17 seconds left to play. Added time was anticipated for stoppages in the game.
Tunisia protested. With Mali reduced to 20 men, Tunisia fancied their chances in added time. Players were called back to the pitch while the post-match activities were holding. Mali returned to the pitch. Tunisia did not come back.
Sikazwe had officiated AFCON since 2015, refereed the FIFA World Club Cup final in 2016 and handled the Belgium-Panama, and Japan-Poland matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
His controversial calls at AFCON 2021 included expelling Mali’s Troure in the 87th, six minutes after he came in as a substitute. The VAR over turned the foul, Sikazwe over ruled the VAR.
Qualifiers from the groups are popping up – Cameroun, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Mali, Gabon, The Gambia, Morocco. Ghana should get in among the best losers.
The story of AFCON 2021 will have generous mentions for Sikazwe. His quest for more fame would not be in ways he anticipated. An early retirement from refereeing hovers over him.
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