Addis Ababa – Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, has expressed belief in Super Eagles’ ability to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup.

He said that in spite of the team’s 2-2 draw with hosts Ethiopia on Sunday in Addis Ababa, he was optimistic of  Nigeria’s qualification.

“I am happy with the match result. Not only that, I am optimistic that Nigeria will qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup,” he said after the Group B Matchday Four fixture of the qualifiers.

Many Nigerians had trooped to the stadium to watch the match and cheer the Super Eagles.

Former Nigerian Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the AU Commission, Amb. Eineje Onobu, and several diplomats were among the Nigerians who watched the match.

Also that thousands of Ethiopian fans  trooped to the Addis Ababa National Stadium as early as 7 a.m to purchase tickets for the game.

Fans praise Super Eagles despite drawing against Ethiopia

Football enthusiasts in Abuja have praised the Super Eagles for their 2-2 draw against the Ethiopian national team in the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifiers.

A cross-section of fans said the match played in Addis Ababa on Sunday did not reflect the Eagles’ current form.

Mr Sunday Oyewale, a businessman, said Nigerians expected a lot in the crucial match in which the three points at stake would have helped them a lot.

“This is a good result though, being an away match. Nigerians expected a lot from them. But, all the same, it is still a good result which we can build upon if we must top our group’s table.

“We should forget whether the Guineans are leading the table for now. They can lose their next match with Ethiopia, even as they are meeting them at home.

“I believe Nigeria will still qualify, but what we need to do is to work well ahead of Guinea’s return match with Nigeria here,” he said.

Mr Caleb Adisa, a plumber, on his part called on the team’s head coach, Samson Siasia, to work well on the team’s areas of deficiency for his team to qualify.

“The coach should not let a little mistake to jeopardise the good work he has been doing since the reformation of the team began.

“Nigeria must qualify, if he doesn’t want people to write him off like the team’s previous coaches,’’ he said.

Mr Udo Stephen, a graphic designer, urged the Eagles to live up to expectations by winning all their remaining matches in the qualification series.

Mr Sadiq Yahaya who saw the result from a different angle opined that the 2-2 draw might have been a sell-out.

“Something is actually fishy, I see no reason why we should beat Argentina 4-1 and play a draw with Ethiopia,” he said.

Yahaya however called on the players and their coaches to bring out their best in subsequent matches.(NAN)