Afcon: Mixed feelings trail Super Eagle’s draw with B/Faso

Birnin Kebbi  - Some football fans in Birnin Kebbi have expressed mixed feelings over the Monday match between Super Eagles and Burkina Faso. 

Nigeria’s Super Eagles played drew 1-1 with Burkina Faso at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa. 

The Kebbi Director of Sports, Alhaji Ladan Usman, in a telephone interview said that the Super Eagles played a good game “but there is room for serious improvement.’’ 

“The average Nigerian soccer fan expected the team to show that it is a potential winner of the competition by winning convincingly. 

“Soccer fans expected a large difference between the Super Eagles and the Burkinabe team, but were highly devastated by the equaliser which came close to the end of the time.’’ 

Alhaji Aliyu Jagirma, who said he is an ardent soccer fan, said the encounter was a good outing for the Super Eagles, “only for the team to allow their opponents to equalise due to drop in concentration.’’ 

“I hope the team will win in subsequent matches. The general coordination was balanced, but winning was all that mattered.’’ 

Another fan, Mr Ayo Ajoge, said “the Super Eagles did not show the hunger to score. 

“The passes were not perfect and the attack forwards were denied passes to score.’’ 

Malam Ali Koko, also a passionate fan, wondered whether the draws in previous matches made the players to be extra cautious in scoring early goals. 
He said that the formidable attackers were denied passes that could translate to goals. 

“I am sure that thousands of fans are heartbroken with the equaliser that should not have occurred if we had scored many early goals. 

“I urge Coach Stephen Keshi to plan for early goals in subsequent matches because if we fail to win the trophy, preparations for the 2014 World Cup will be a real hard task for us.’’ (NAN)