Sports
Mikel, others depart as Eagles arrive Abuja quietly
Players and officials of Nigeria’s Super Eagles returned from Cairo, Egypt early on Wednesday quietly, looking so disappointed after falling 1-0 to the Pharaohs thereby failing to qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon.
Unlike in the past, no official was on ground to welcome the arrival of the Eagles at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja as they sneaked in like orphans who have no parents or siblings.
England based trio of Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho flew directly to England from Alexandria after the match Tuesday night while the duo of Umar Aminu and Azubuike Okechukwu returned to Turkey from Egypt.
While most of the players could not grant press interviews at the airport, Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi, hurriedly left the team to catch up with his connecting flight to London.
Read also: Nigeria loses out of AFCON 2017
Meanwhile, Egypt coach Hector Cuper has praised his players for enduring the tough time they had against the Super Eagles in the Tuesday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Alexandria.
Sobhy struck on 65 minutes with a shot from inside the box that was deflected past goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Victor Moses came close to leveling four minutes from time with a shot that struck the post and trickled across an unguarded goal.
“We played very well in the first half. The second half was not as good as the first, but that normally happens when you come against a tough opponent like Nigeria.
“We threatened the Nigerians with many counter-attacks, but were unlucky to finish them. We also could have conceded a goal during the match,” Cuper told kingfut.com
Cuper expressed delight that Egypt are close to making a return to the AFCON.
“I am very happy that we are on the verge of qualification to the African Cup of Nations. I am especially proud of managing this group of players who fought on the pitch for 90 minutes to secure the win for Egypt,” Cuper stated.
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