Nigeria's Super Eagles fail to qualify for Nations Cup

Nigeria are out of the Africa Cup of Nations after being held to a 2-2 draw by Guinea in Abuja.

The Syli Nationale go through as Group B winners.

After Ismael Bangoura gave the visitors a second-half lead, Nigeria seemed to have turned it around with goals from Obinna Nsofor and Ikechukwu Uche.

But Ibrahima Traore's goal deep into stoppage time ensured Guinea's progress and meant Nigeria failed to qualify for the first time since 1986.

They will be absent from the competition for the first time since 1996 however, having quit those finals for political reasons.

Coach Samson Siasia apologised for the defeat.

"We want to apologise to all Nigerians. We have not qualified for the Nations Cup and we take responsibility as a team," Siasia said.

"We did our best, we dominated the game, we created chances, but we failed to take our chances and we gave up a last minute goal.

"We understand the frustration of the fans because they love their team so much. But sometimes, football can be cruel."

The Super Eagles went into the match needing to win 1-0, or by two clear goals should Guinea have scored, to book their place in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Nigeria's plight was not helped when Ethiopia beat Madagascar 4-2 in Addis Adaba on Saturday.

With results against the bottom side in the group not being taken into account, Nigeria's two wins over Madagascar are no longer relevant.

This means the Super Eagles' points tally from their game against Guinea and Ethiopia total just five points - trailing Sudan (seven) and Libya (eight).

"This was a very big surprise - and I must confess that the team was very nervous - the pressure was just too much," former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh told BBC Sport.

"Things have been going wrong for us since 2002 - there's a lack of consistency, we are not that well-rounded and there are too many lapses.

"Not qualifying for a World Cup is one thing but when we don't qualify for a Nations Cup, that hurts as it means we don't belong to the best teams in the continent."

After the match, a number of Nigerian fans reacted angrily to the defeat - attacking the media tribune at the Abuja National Stadium while also damaging its infrastructure.

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Nigerian convicts in Britain to serve prison term in Nigeria

Nigeria's lower house of parliament has approved a deal in which offenders convicted in Britain will serve out their jail terms in their home country.

The agreement still requires approval from the Senate, where it is likely to pass soon.

About 600 Nigerian inmates are being held in British jails, but it is not clear how many will face deportation.

The decision follows a visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron to Nigeria in July.

The UK Ministry of Justice said foreigners who "abuse our hospitality" and have no legal right to stay should be deported "at the earliest opportunity".

"Where possible those foreign nationals who receive a prison sentence should serve their sentences in their own countries," the ministry said.

The ministry said the British government had a number of transfer agreements, but most required the consent of the prisoner.

It was now working on transfer agreements that did not require that consent, it said.

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Super Eagles plead with fans for support

SUPER Eagles have made a passionate appeal to football fans to keep faith with them when things become tough during Saturday's match against Guinea in Abuja.

Nigerian fans have over the years gained notoriety for their seeming impatient with Nigerian teams when on international duties at home.

The ever- impatient fans jeer, boo and sometimes hurl missiles at the players when they are stuttering during matches.

But the Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia, captain Joseph Yobo and striker Osaz Odemwingie said the outcome of the Guinea match could be detrimental to Nigeria's Nations Cup should fans choose to turn against the Eagles when things become difficult.

Siasia and the players said in different interviews that fans, as the twelfth player, would play a key role in Nigeria's quest to defeat the Guineans and qualify for next year's competition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Yobo begged the fans for unalloyed support and commitment throughout the match, which he insisted would spur them to smashing performance.

'We want to appeal to the fans to come out and make the job easier for us.

They have to make the stadium an intimidating place for the Guineans by filling up the stadium at least two hours before the game.

'We don't want a violent atmosphere, we just want the whole stadium to be a sea of green and white so that when they walk in, they'll know that they are playing not only the players on the field, but the fans too,' said the Fenerbahce defender.

Odemwingie said the players have showed so much commitment with their attitude ahead of the match and their effort should be complemented with unflinching support from the fans.

'I think we as players have shown how committed we are to this game by the way everyone

has reported to camp just a day after the coach opened camp.

'Even Efe Ambrose, who got married on Saturday, has left his young wife and is here to serve his country.

'We want to appeal to the fans to also do their part by coming out and filling up the stadium at least two hours before the game like the captain has said, to show the Guineans that we mean business.

'This is a collective effort between the players and we will all enjoy the Nations Cup together.'

Siasia echoed the sentiment of his players when he enjoined the fans to create electric atmosphere at the Abuja Stadium by throng- ing the stadium en-masse and cheer the team to victory.

'We want our people to come and create the correct atmosphere at the stadium, the singing and dancing, and the whole works.

We want the place bright with sea of green and white colours and everyone cheering every move of the Super Eagles.

'Support is always key in games of this nature. And we believe that Nigerians from everywhere will come to the Stadium and cheer Super Eagles to victory,' said Siasia.

The Nigerian team needs to beat the Syli Nationale by a minimum of two-goal margin to secure an automatic qualifying ticket to the 2012 Nations Cup.

Nigeria has never failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations since failing at the final qualify- ing hurdle against Zambia in a 0-1 aggregate defeat in 1985.

Also, Tunisia is the only team to have escaped unhurt against the Super Eagles in a competitive match at the National Stadium, Abuja, when forcing the Eagles to a 2-2 draw in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match 25 months ago.

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