Nigeria forward Victor Moses has expressed his sadness over the inability of Nigeria to beat Egypt in the AFCON 2017 qualifier in Kaduna on Friday.
Nigeria drew 1-1 with Egypt and now walk a tighter rope in the race to pick an automatic qualification ticket to AFCON 2017 in Gabon.
“Shame we couldn’t get the win today (Friday) but the boys battled hard and we move on to Tuesday now,” a disappointed Moses tweeted.
Victor Moses was a second-half substitute on Friday, playing his first match for Nigeria since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s captain John Obi Mikel has said the Pharaohs should have applied the rules of fair play when a Super Eagles defender fell on the pitch in Friday’s 1-1 draw in Kaduna.
The hosts were leading via Oghenekaro Etebo’s goal until very late when Mohamed Salah pounced on a ball behind the Nigeria backline after defender Godfrey Oboabona had fallen on the pitch. While the Eagles were hoping for the Egyptians to play it out, Salah slotted home after receiving a pass from Ramadan Sobhy.
“I think we played very well but we lost a lot of chances that we created that could have fetched us total victory in today’s match against Egypt,” Mikel told media.
“Everybody is saying we lost the game in the last three minutes but all I can say is that fair play is fair play, it doesn’t matter, fair play is fair play. “Okay you can say we should have concentrated a little more, but Fair Play is Fair Play.
This is cheating, that is all I can say. It happens in Egypt, it happens everywhere. It doesn’t matter how many minutes it is, you have to allow it. It is the referee that controls the game.” However, the Chelsea midfielder who captained the Nigerians for the first time on Friday assured that with their form, the Eagles can surprise the Egyptians in Tuesday’s return leg in Alexandria.
“I am very optimistic like the coach [Samson Siasia] that the way we played today we have a very good chance of getting a win in Egypt,” Mikel assured. The Eagles remain two points behind the Pharaohs who have seven points atop Group G with Tanzania lying in third place with four points and Chad yet to earn any.
Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo has declared his optimism that Nigeria can get all three points against Egypt on Tuesday in the AFCON qualifier.
“Egypt got a draw in Nigeria and I believe we can still go over there to win,” declared Ighalo, who was kept quiet by the Egyptian defence on Friday for the duration of the game.
“It was disappointing that we did not concentrate till the last minute and that they didn’t give us the fair play, but we can still win on Tuesday.”
Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi said the target remains a win in Egypt.
“We need the three points in Egypt. It will be a tough task, but we are very capable,” said the South Africa-based shot stopper.
“We will fight to get the victory in Egypt,” added defiant Gent forward Moses Simon, who started the game on Friday ahead of Chelsea loanee Victor Moses.