South Africa draw not bad, says Keshi

Despite the goalless draw with South Africa Wednesday, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi said the team played better than their last match and will get better in subsequent games.

The team needed the maximum points against Bafana Bafana after the 3-2 loss to Congo to kick-start their quest for qualification for AFCON 2015 but only ended up with a 0-0 draw, and Keshi has chosen to look at the brighter side of the result.

“The game was not bad; I thought it was a very good tactical play, and a good side by Bafana Bafana, and I thought you guys must have enjoyed the game,” Keshi said at the post-match conference.

“A little bit of improvement from my players, a lot better than what we did on Saturday. It’s been like three months we have not been together and it is taking time to gel. I know that by the time we play our next game in Sudan, we’ll be much much better. I’m not totally satisfied but I liked what I saw today.”

Keshi came to the defence of the team’s striker Emmanuel Emenike when questioned about the Fenerbahce player’s performance in the match in Cape Town.

“If a striker doesn’t play good, [it] doesn’t mean he’s not good. You see players in Europe who go 15 games without a goal, [it] doesn’t mean he’s not there. Emenike, I have to believe he is there. When he starts scoring, he won’t stop,” he said.

“Three months we have not played together. He plays in a different team with a different style, we need to come together and start playing our normal game. Hopefully by October we should be there. I’m happy with the performance today and I know it’d be much better as this is just 60 per cent of our game.”

Responding to questions whether lack of first team action with Chelsea might be responsible for John Mikel Obi’s poor game against South Africa, Keshi said:

“It might (be). He’s not playing in his team, that doesn’t mean I cannot use him in my team.

“That is the coach’s choice not to play him in his team, but if my team is in good shape after a world of experience playing Champions League, he earned his place and he has to make the best of the situation.”

Keshi was at his jocular best when asked about his future on the job.

“What is going to happen to me? I will probably go home and see my wife. No, I’m just kidding, we’ve got to concentrate and see what I will do in the month of October.”

Nigeria are third in Group A after two games behind Congo (six points) and South Africa (four points). They will meet bottom placed Sudan away and home in October 11 and 15.

Now, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi said the Eagles are determined to win their remaining four matches so as to defend their crown in Morocco in January.

“We did not plan for a draw (in South Africa). We now have to win all remaining games if we are to qualify for the Nations Cup,” said the Lazio ace.

“We are determined to meet our target.”

Celtic centre-half Efe Ambrose also shared in his optimism.

“It was a difficult game against South Africa. They gave us a good fight, but we will still make sure we qualify for the Nations Cup,” the defender said.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2012 AFCON hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, which cost Samson Siasia his job as head coach of the team.