It was day of anguish for Nigeria’s Super Eagles as they lost against all expectations by analysts to a less fancied Congolese team in Calabar on Saturday. It would be the first time they were losing a match in Calabar since making it their choice ‘home’ venue several years ago.
Nigeria lost the competitive home game for the first time in 33 years as they began their African Nations Cup title defence in disappointing fashion with a 3-2 defeat by Congo in Calabar on Saturday.
French-born striker Thievy Bifouma scored twice and captain Prince Oniangue grabbed the other goal as Nigeria lost at home in a competitive fixture for the first time since being beaten 2-0 by Algeria in a World Cup qualifier in Lagos in 1981.
With a possible ban from world soccer’s ruling body FIFA hanging over them for government interference in football federation matters, Super Eagles were not so super as they got caught out in their opening Group A game for the 2015 finals in Morocco.
In what looked like a promising start, Efe Ambrose headed the hosts in front after 13 minutes but Nigeria’s celebration was shortlived as Oniangue equalised three minutes later.
Bifouma, who had a brief spell on loan at English Premier League West Bromwich Albion last season, put Congo 2-1 ahead in the 40th minute before he converted a penalty in the 54th.
Gbolahan Salami then gave the score line a more respectable look for Nigeria with an 86th-minute goal.
The champions next travel to Cape Town on Wednesday to face South Africa who defeated Sudan 3-0 in the other Group A match on Friday. Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi and hapless Nigerian Fans must be asking themselves “what happened to our Eagles today?”
Additional Source: Yahoo! Sports
