Nigeria must beat Sudan
in Omdurman tomorrow to be back in contention for a place at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The African champions are third in Group A with a point from two games and behind Congo and South Africa, who have recorded six and four points, respectively.
The African champions therefore find themselves in a must-win situation in their next qualifying game tomorrow in Sudan.
The Eagles will be without Stoke City forward Victor Moses, who has suffered a recurrence of a thigh problem at his English Premier League club, and Ukraine-based winger Babatunde Michael, who is nursing a knee injury.
Questions rather than praise have greeted Keshi’s invitation for several uncapped players including China-based striker Aaron Samuel and Reading midfielder Hope Akpan.
Skipper Vincent Enyeama has however  rejoined the squad after he stayed away to attend to what team officials said were “pressing personal problems”.
Nigeria will also have to cope with boiling temperatures and a late switch for the game to be played on an artificial pitch in Sudan.
”Personally, I prefer playing on natural grass pitch, but we just have to adjust, be smarter and work on our timing when we play on astro turf and we will be okay,” said Monaco defender Elderson Echiejile, who will be visiting Sudan for the first time.
”And as for the weather, we are first and foremost Nigerians and born in Africa and so we should also be able to cope on the day.”
Middlesbrough defender Kenneth Omeruo said there will be no margin for error against Sudan in both games.
“We are aware of the task ahead and so we have resolved to work hard to pick the available 12 points in our remaining qualifiers,” said Omeruo.
”The response of the players from the first day of training speaks loud of our intention ahead of the games. All we ask of Nigerians is their support.
“We also know there are no minnows anymore in African football.”
Both countries have clashed 11 times and Nigeria have won six of these meetings, drawn four times and lost once to the Sudanese.
The only Nigeria loss to Sudan was in 1963, when they fell 4-0 in a 1964 Nations Cup qualifier, while the last meeting was in a friendly in 2008 which Nigeria won 2-0.
Nigeria ran away 4-0 winners on their last visit to Sudan in a 2002 World Cup qualifier 13 years ago with Yakubu Aiyegbeni grabbing a brace.