Eguavoen Hopeful Of Qualifying For Semi-Finals: CAF U-23 Championship

Austin Eguavoen has said that Nigeria will make it to the semi-finals of the African Under-23 Championship despite a second loss on the trot.

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles fell 1-2 to Senegal on Tuesday night to leave their hopes of reaching the 2012 Olympic Games hanging by the thinnest of threads.

Two first half goals from Modou Kara and Abdoulaye Sane proved enough in the end, despite Daniel Uchechi’s early second half effort.

Defeat for the young Nigerians means they now have to beat Algeria by two goals, and hope for a Morocco win over Senegal if they are to have any hopes of advancing.

Eguavoen is hopeful that all hopes are not lost “It is not so easy,” he said. “We need to do a lot of psychological work on the boys, because many of them think that it is all over.

“But I have to let them know that it’s not over until it’s over.

“We need to pick the last three points and leave the rest to fate.”

That fate will come in the shape of Morocco beating Senegal, who now have a goal difference of 0. A loss to Morocco will take them down to a goal difference of -1.

If the Olympic Eagles do their part and beat Algeria by two clear goals, their goal difference will move from -2 to 0, putting them ahead of Senegal.

Algeria, with a goal difference of 0, would go down to -2 if they lose by 2 goals to Nigeria.

Whether the Nigerian team can hold up their end of the bargain, even if Morocco do their part, is another matter entirely.