By Emmanuel Damilare

A repeat of what happened in 2011 when the Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 Africa Cup Of Nations co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the team as well will not be at the Africa Nations Cup to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea in 2015 after a 2-2 draw against South Africa while their closest rival for the second spot in the group, Congo got all three point away against Sudan.

Going into the game the South Africa team tutored by Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba had already booked there place at the Mundial next year and are playing to get there first ever win in competitive match against Nigeria but Keshi and his boys needed a win to secure qualification irrespective of what the result could be in the Sudan vs Congo game as they topple the latter who is on the same number of points with them on head to head rule.

With the positive chants coming from the Uyo fans, the Nigeria team started the game the slightly as better of both teams and created couple of chances with Ahmed Musa throwing away clear cut chances that converting them would have unsettled the nerves of the South Africans but rather the South Africans took the initiative in the 42nd minute when Rantie ran past Lawal and Egwueke via the right side of the Nigerian defence poorly managed by the under performing Efe Ambrose to ensure the away team go into the half time break with a 1-0 lead.

On commencement of the second half, the South Africans started the better side and needed just three minutes to double there lead after Rantie stole the ball from the Nigeria defence and doubled Bafana Bafana’s lead.

The Super Eagles thereafter, gained momentum and were throwing everything at the South Africa defence and got a goal in the 68th minute via the
substitute Omatsone Aluko after the ball was played around the opponent’s territory to keep up hopes of a comeback victory if possible and that was to be made easier with red card shown to a South Africa’s most capped player and the Super Eagles kept on piling the pressure on South African defence but could only get a goal late in added time through the boot of Aluko again to make it 2-2 but that counted for nothing positive for what is needed as Congo had successfully defeated the Sudanese to finish second in the group on 10 point behind South Africa as against 8 point
of Nigeria.

Having gotten that needed two goals margin victory away to Congo in Point Noire over the weekend in Point Noire, the Super Eagles needed to consolidate on that by winning which they failed to do and the consequence being that they will be missing the second Nations Cup in three successive editions and notably won’t be defending the title they won last year in South Africa when the African Cup of Nations kicks off January 17th.