By Akinwale Kasali
The Super Eagles failed to finish top leaders of Group B at on-going 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Debutants, Madagascar defeated the Super Eagles 2-0 at the Alexandria Stadium, to break the jinx of always losing to Nigeria.
After seven attempts of not winning against the Super Eagles and also not scoring, the Coach Le Puit tutored Madagascan team humbled the Eagles by scoring in both halves to register their famous victory in football.
Coach Gernot Rohr of the Super Eagles made five changes in his first eleven that played previously against Guinea.
Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Samuel Kalu, John Mikel, William Troost Ekong and John Of started the match, despite the coach saying after the Guinean match he wasn’t going to change his winning team.
The last time Nigeria failed to win its last match at the African showpiece was in 1994 when the Super Eagles played a goalless draw against Cote d’ Ivoire.
Bookmakers had predicted that Nigeria will win against the Madagascan to record a- 100 per cent record at the group stage.
With this defeat, Nigeria is second behind eventual group winners, Madagascar, with the Syli Nationale of Guinea finishing third with four points having defeated Burundi 2-0, with hope of qualifying for the Round of 16 as best placed in their group.
Soccer enthusists have blamed the coach of the Nigerian side for rotating his team, putting Nigeria in a tight position.
The Super Eagles will now play the team that comes second in Group F consisting of Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and Benin Republic.
Super Eagles will play their next match, the Round of 16 knock- out stage on Saturday, 6th July, 2019.
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