Kelechi Iheanacho in action during the first-leg against Egypt in Kaduna
At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria was obviously missing from the finals, a feat many hoped would not repeat itself.
But a combination of administrative shortfalls, change in coaching staff and perhaps lack of proper plan has cost the country an opportunity to feature in the 2017 edition.
Nigeria’s fate was all but sealed when ex-coach, Sunday Oliseh resigned blaming the Nigerian Football Federation for failing to pay him his allowances amidst other things.
But even that was not has damning as the decision of Chad to pull out of the AFCON 2017 qualifiers. The decision by Nigeria’s neighbour all but sealed their faint hopes.
With their future in their own hands, Nigeria needed to collect at least four points against Egypt if they were to have the bragging rights in Group G but a single point was all they could muster.
On 29 March in Alexandria, Egypt, the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 0-1 loss to the Pharaohs of Egypt.
The loss ensured a second consecutive absence for the three-time African champions.
With just one game remaining and only the group winners to qualify, Nigeria cannot make up their five-point deficit to group leaders Egypt who now have seven points.
Ramadan Sobhy’s 65th-minute goal put Egypt in shape for qualification, and added to the misery of Nigeria whose campaign had been fraught with many mishaps from the beginning.
Egypt with only one match to play now visit Tanzania in June and need to do virtually nothing, such as avoiding a 0-4 defeat, to qualify for Gabon.
The East Africans are presently on one point from two matches, and can only upstage the Egyptians if they massively beat the North Africans and Nigeria.
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Source:: PM Newspaper
