CHAN: KESHI - Nigeria Must Win Against South Africa

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has admitted his team’s last group game against CHAN hosts South Africa will be tough because they are up against a more experienced team.
 
“If you look at some of their players like (Siphiwe) Tshabalala and goalkeeper (Itumeleng) Khune, they have lots of experience and this will matter a lot going into the decisive group game on Sunday,” conceded Keshi.
 
“It’s very difficult to handle these youngsters (in my team), but they are an intelligent group who have mastered things quickly.”
 
South Africa lead Group A with four points ahead of Mali, who also have four points but an inferior goals difference.

 
Nigeria are third on three points, while Mozambique are yet to win the Super Eagles are second and Mozambique are bottom without any points.
 
The Super Eagles need a win against Bafana to be guarantee their place in the knockout stage of the tournament.
 
“I hope we get better and better because with football I cannot say we shall beat South Africa,” said Keshi, while insisting Nigeria’s favourable record against South Africa will count for nothing on Sunday.
 
 Kick-off is 6pm Nigerian time on Sunday.

Nigeria will need an outright win against Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Sunday to ensure an easy passage into the next stage of the on-going CHAN.

A draw against the host will automatically end Nigeria's campaign in the competition irrespective of the result between Mali and Mozambique in the second final group A game on Sunday.

CAF,the tournament's organisers have announced that the head-tohead rule will be used to determine which teams qualify from the group stages in case equality of points between two or more teams after all the group matches have been played.

According to CAF,the ranking of the teams shall be established using the following criteria:

a. Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams;
b. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
c. Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches between the teams concerned;
d. Goal difference in all group matches;
e. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;
f. Fair Play point system in which the number of yellow and red cards are evaluated;
g. Drawing of lots by CAF Organising Committee

If the Eagles draw and Mali lose,Mali will qualify because they obtained three points against Nigeria in the opening group game albeit both countries will end with four points each.