Mixed reactions trailed the Super Eagles 1-1 draw with the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Calabar at weekend.

The Super Eagles forced the Harambee Stars to a draw in the World Cup qualifier at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

Some soccer stakeholders and fans in Abuja told Tidesports that they were disappointment over the outcome of the match.

Mr Moroof Oluwa, the Secretary-General of Nigeria Football Referees Association (NFRA), expressed concern over the ability of the Super Eagles to take their chances in front of goal.

“The boys really need to wake up from their slumber and put the victory of the Nations Cup behind them.

“The World Cup is the biggest stage of the game and it will really be a shame if we don’t qualify,” Oluwa said.

Mr Godwin Bamigboye, the Chairman of the Nigeria Coaches Association (NCA), FCT chapter, said that the game was tough because the Kenyans came to defend.

“Well, the Kenyans came to defend but were caught napping in the final minute of the game.

“There is a likelihood that when the Eagles’ go for the return leg in Kenya, the Harambee Stars will come out to play; then the Eagles’ could create more scoring opportunities.

“I really do hope we can convert more of our chances to goals in our next match because our strikers were really wasteful today,” he said.

Dimeji Salami, a business man, said that the Super Eagles were lucky to have escaped defeat after throwing away many scoring chances.

“They missed a lot of scoring opportunities and could have paid dearly for it today but for a last gasp effort from Nnamdi,” he said.

Another soccer enthusiast, Audu Yisa, said the last minute goal was a big relief.

“The draw was bad enough. A defeat would have been worse.

“The boys need to put more effort into their next match because the Kenyans will be tougher to beat at home,” he said.

Mr Chidi Nwogwugwu, an estate surveyor, however, said that although the Eagles drew the game, hope was not lost.

“We are still on course; we have a very good chance of qualifying,” he said.

And from Lagos, Fatai Amao, a former Head Coach of 3SC, expressed gratitude to God for the draw and said that the shock given by the the Harambee Stars was an indication that no team should be underrated.

“The game of football is not predictable at all but we thank God that the game ended in a draw because Kenya came here to surprise us.

“I want to salute the courage of our boys not giving up until the end of the game, this is highly commendable,’’ he said.

Joe Erico, a former Assistant Head Coach of Super Eagles, said that he was taken aback by the result of the game.

Erico said that the Harambee Stars would have succeeded in beating the Eagles had they given up.

“I was apprehensive but thank God for the draw. I believe the team will convert all their missed opportunities to goals in Nairobi,’’ he said.

Erico said that there was no complacency on the Eagles side as the team played well.

He expressed optimism that the Eagles would convert all the missed chances to goals in the return leg to enable them to qualify for the World Cup.

But Ali Reham , the Kenyan Team manager, accused the referee of assisting the Eagles to equalise the game.

“The referee from Bostwana did not do well, he added extra time to enable Nigeria equalise.

“We played well and likewise Nigeria played like Africa Champions and kept the pressure until they equalised.