PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
2013 AFCON: Poor disciplinary record may ruin Super Eagles’ dream
Rustenburg, South Africa (PANA) - The two qualifiers and leadership of Group C at the ongoing African Nations Cup in South Africa could go down to the "last whistle" Tuesday.
Defending champions Zambia takes on Burkina Faso and the Super Eagles of Nigeria squares up against Ethiopia.
All four teams – Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Zambia and Ethiopia - have mathematical chances of advancing but the most favoured to top the group as well as having less worries for qualification for the quarter finals, remains Burkina Faso.
The team needs just a draw while Ethiopia, currently last on the table after two matches, could also still summon some muscles to upstage Nigeria. The Ethiopians will qualify if they beat Nigeria with a large goal margin provided the Zambia-Burkina Faso game ends in win for any of the two teams.
But attention is more on Nigeria and Zambia, the pre-tournament favourites in the group. The two must win their matches to advance. Should that happen, both will tie on points at five points each and a defeated Burkina Faso (with four points) could be edged out.
Since both also drew in their encounter last Friday, the use of head-to-head clash to break the deadlock will no longer be used. Both also have the same number of goals and goal-difference, so if after Tuesday, they tie on five points, the fair play rule will come into play.
The poor disciplinary record of the Super Eagles may turn ruinous because Article 72.6 - the Fair Play points system - will be used, taking into account the number of yellow cards and red cards issued each team.
Nigeria has been one of the poorest teams on the disciplinary scale, having received yellow cards in all their group games and the game against Ethiopia may follow the same pattern.
Moreover, Nigeria is one of the three teams to have had players sent off. In all, the Super Eagles have amassed four yellow cards through Godfrey Oboabona, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Elderson Echiejile. The double yellow card on Ambrose Efe translated to a red card.
In contrast, Zambia have had just two yellow cards through Nathan Sinkala and Emmanuel Mbola. On the fair play chart, Nigeria, after two matches ranks 15th among the 16 teams. Nigeria ranks only better than the Moroccans who have amassed six yellow cards.
-0- PANA KS/VAO 27Jan2013
Defending champions Zambia takes on Burkina Faso and the Super Eagles of Nigeria squares up against Ethiopia.
All four teams – Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Zambia and Ethiopia - have mathematical chances of advancing but the most favoured to top the group as well as having less worries for qualification for the quarter finals, remains Burkina Faso.
The team needs just a draw while Ethiopia, currently last on the table after two matches, could also still summon some muscles to upstage Nigeria. The Ethiopians will qualify if they beat Nigeria with a large goal margin provided the Zambia-Burkina Faso game ends in win for any of the two teams.
But attention is more on Nigeria and Zambia, the pre-tournament favourites in the group. The two must win their matches to advance. Should that happen, both will tie on points at five points each and a defeated Burkina Faso (with four points) could be edged out.
Since both also drew in their encounter last Friday, the use of head-to-head clash to break the deadlock will no longer be used. Both also have the same number of goals and goal-difference, so if after Tuesday, they tie on five points, the fair play rule will come into play.
The poor disciplinary record of the Super Eagles may turn ruinous because Article 72.6 - the Fair Play points system - will be used, taking into account the number of yellow cards and red cards issued each team.
Nigeria has been one of the poorest teams on the disciplinary scale, having received yellow cards in all their group games and the game against Ethiopia may follow the same pattern.
Moreover, Nigeria is one of the three teams to have had players sent off. In all, the Super Eagles have amassed four yellow cards through Godfrey Oboabona, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Elderson Echiejile. The double yellow card on Ambrose Efe translated to a red card.
In contrast, Zambia have had just two yellow cards through Nathan Sinkala and Emmanuel Mbola. On the fair play chart, Nigeria, after two matches ranks 15th among the 16 teams. Nigeria ranks only better than the Moroccans who have amassed six yellow cards.
-0- PANA KS/VAO 27Jan2013
