Only on Monday,the Super Eagles thumped Tahiti 6-1 in their first game of the competition,but critics believe that they will have to put in a better shift,if they are to go far in the tournament.

“Nobody gave us the chance to triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. We love the status of underdogs that we have here and it will help us to achieve our objective of making Nigeria and Africa proud,” Keshi said.

Nigeria will tomorrow take on Uruguay in their second match of the tournament,and knows that a win will guarantee a semi-final berth.

Meanwhile FIFA in a statement ruled out Nigeria’s first goal against Tahiti,stating that it was an own goal.

“Following further studies of the video of the match between Tahiti and Nigeria on 17 June in Belo Horizonte, FIFA’s Technical Study Group has decided the first goal of Nigeria, scored in the fifth minute, was an own goal by Tahiti number 10 Nicolas Vallar.

”The goal was initially awarded to Nigeria’s Uwa Echiejile but after careful review was credited as an own goal.”

Only yesterday,Gaiya said that the NFF should solely be held responsible for what happened,stating that all their financial dealings are shrouded in secrecy.

Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama said that the attacks of Gaiya on the Football Federation,were uncalled for,as he is well informed on their financial constraints.

“The NFF can only operate with the funds made available to it. We are taken aback by the attacks because Hon. Gaiya knows everything that’s going on, including the reasons why we have to slash bonus and downsize technical/backroom staff,” Inyama was quoted to have said on Vanguard Sports.

“The NFF President was very transparent in explaining to the Coach and the players why the bonus had to be slashed.”

“The NFF was allocated the sum of N1.8 billion for this year, out of which N1.5 billion is for sporting activities, and we have been told that the sum of N790 million given to us to prosecute the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa would be deducted from that sum.”

“In the event, we are left with the sum of N710 million for our sporting activities for the whole of this year, how are we to service our different National Teams (Super Eagles, U-23 Men, U-20 Men, U-17 Boys, Super Falcons, U-20 girls, U-17 girls, Beach Soccer, Home-based Eagles, U-13 boys) from this amount, for the rest of the year?”

Of course the last has not been heard of this.

The South American country were defeated 2-1 by World and European Champions,Spain,on Sunday and they now have the game against Nigeria on Thursday,to keep their hopes alive in the competition.

But Suarez is confident that they will make it to the semi-final,despite losing their first game.

“Even before the game we knew that Spain were a better side than us,” Suarez told FIFA.com

“They use the ball really well and it’s really hard to get it off them. What’s more, they’ve got players in midfield with a huge amount of quality and they’re very effective up front. They were the favourites and at the end of the day the result wasn’t a surprise.”

“We lost against the world’s best national team, but we know that the competition’s only just starting,”

“I think that we left a positive impression and we never let our heads drop, even when the game looked beyond us.

“The matches we’ve got coming up are different, and we’ve got to win them to progress. I think we showed a positive attitude and I’m feeling optimistic.”

“We might have had a setback against Spain, but there’s still a long way to go and we’re going to bounce back,” Suarez added.

When Suarez said they would bounce back,he is certainly making reference to the game against the Super Eagles.

Drogba has not made the Ivory Coast team,since he last featured for the Elephants at the African Nations Cup against Nigeria in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Lamouchi dismissed reports that he has a problem with Drogba,adding that the former Chelsea striker merely “needed a holiday.”

“I don’t have a problem with him. Quite the contrary,” ex-France international midfielder Lamouchi, who took the Ivory Coast job in May 2012, said. “Of course he’s someone on whom I count, he knows that. I would be mad not to take advantage of the player and man he is. I knew the player, but the man is a gentleman and a great professional.”

“He brings a lot to the national team, to the country and Africa in general. We’ll see him again in a national team shirt, no problem. It’s just that he needs to do a good pre-season. He still has a lot to offer even if it’s only his experience. Didier Drogba is ready to come to the national side even if he doesn’t play.”

Drogba is in line to make a return to the national team for a friendly game in August against Mexico.

Wins for Australia,South Korea and Iran secured automatic qualification for the World Cup,with Uzbekistan settling for the play-off spot.

A solitary goal by Josh Kennedy ensured a 1-0 victory for Australia over visiting Iraq,which booked the Socceroos’ passage to the World Cup.

Substitute,Kennedy,took the place of Australia’s talismanic striker,Tim Cahill, in the 77th minute and justified his coach’s faith in him,heading home in the 83rd minute to ensure victory.

Meanwhile in a dramatic game,Iran secured a 0-1 victory away to South Korea,which took them above their host.

But South Korea qualified nevertheless qualified,after finish on a better goals difference ahead of Uzbekistan.

The country will now join Japan,as the teams to have qualified for the World Cup,aside the host team,Brazil.

“I’m proud of everybody. It’s been a really hard campaign but we showed our mental strength,” Australia captain Lucas Neill told FIFA.com

“I’m sorry it wasn’t pretty but we beat them. We’ve got to keep pushing ourselves. Let’s look at the positives tonight – we’re going to Brazil!”

Australia coach Holger Osieck , added that it was a difficult qualifying campaign: “It was a very tough qualifying campaign but we made it happen over the last three games,” said Osieck. “I’m simply happy for the boys and the fans. It was a tricky game, they are tough to play.”

Anyansi assured that in the remaining 19 fixtures of the league,that they will strive hard to win their home and away matches.

Enyimba on Sunday defeated Heartland in the oriental derby,which moved them up to sixth on the log after accumulating 28 points from the first 19 matches.

“I am very happy because the match lived up to its billing. It was a local derby against our sister state. Heartland came out fighting but my boys were calm,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)

“It could have been better without the rain but we will see them in Owerri in two weeks time, and that is when they will know the kind of team that we have built,” he said.

“In spite of our run of poor results I think our worst period is over. I am looking at the reverse fixture which is against Heartland in a fortnight,” Anyansi-Agwu said.

There are reports that Torres could be offloaded by Jose Mourinho,in preference for another striker,as he might want to make use of a much stronger center forward.

About the rumours,Torres told Onda Radio show,Al prima Toque from Brazil,where he is currently on national assignment with Spain,for the FIFA Confederations Cup: “This is all normal, every summer is the time for rumours, new coaches and players,” Torres said.

“Until the Confederations Cup is over the squads will not be closed, but my head is here with the national team.

“Barcelona remain one of the best teams in the world, but sincerely, I do not know if there is real interest or not. I am just thinking about the Confederations Cup, immediately after that about Chelsea. I want to speak with Mourinho and then get ready for next season. I am looking forward to that conversation, to know what plans he has for me and to tell him my point of view.”

“Chelsea is the club where I am and where I want to be, I want to keep winning big trophies here,” Torres said. “Mourinho is a very demanding coach, but who has always guaranteed success. I am confident that he will have something prepared for me. I have three more years on my contract, I expect and want to fulfil those. I want to win the Premier League, which is the only trophy I am missing,” Torres added.

Cavani is being courted by several top sides in Europe,with Chelsea,Manchester City and Madrid having shown interest in the 26-year old Uruguayan.

“I am very calm. Real Madrid are a beautiful team, every player dreams of playing there when he is a child,” Cavani said on ‘El Partido de las 12.’

“Those are things that they are talking from behind, as it will soon be seen. But officially nobody has talked with me.”

“I am for now a Napoli player and I am focused on the Confederations Cup,” he added.

“What the clubs decide doesn’t depend only on me, but also on other factors which will be talked about once the tournament is over.”

Only last week,Cavani’s father,revealed that his son would prefer a move to the Spanish club ahead of other teams.

Could all these tilt the deal,towards Madrid’s favour?

Odemwingie has been left out of the Super Eagles since February 2012,after he fell out with coach Stephen Keshi and also the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF),taking to the social media,Twitter, to vent his anger.

“ I would like to play international football again of course, if my country calls on me I will go and help them, I can never say no to my country,” Odemwingie said on the BBC while acting as a pundit in Nigeria’s game against Tahiti in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

The West Brom attacker also had a problem with his club,after he failed to secure a move away from the club in January,to join Queens Park Rangers.

But Odemwingie who was frozen out of West Brom’s team,before making substitute appearances,said that he would likely leave the midlands club in search of regular football.

“I thought things could be done easier, there was a new manager who came in and it didn’t go in my favour. I was moved out of my position. I made my name by scoring goals.”

“It looks like I will leave the Hawthorns. We are talking now – but where I’ll end up I don’t know,” Odemwingie said.

“I want playing time. Even if it is a team that is not so good, from the Championship – I will go” there as I just want to play.”

Oluyole Warriors are one of the stand-out teams in this season’s campaign,but the experience of Hoopers,was brought to bear as they rallied round to beat the Ibadan based team.

In their first game on Sunday,Hoopers needed just two points,to see off the challenge of Warriors,winning the game by 63-61 points.

But Hoopers came back stronger in the second game on Monday,winning by a wider margin of 56-38 points victory.

Meanwhile Dodan Warriors equally recorded a double-headed victory over Customs,winning 73-47 in the first game and 63- 60 in their second game, on Friday and Sunday.

“I thank God for how we have been turning out good results in our weekly matches. I am happy with my players’ level of commitment and professionalism. They make my work complete,” Dodan Warriors coach Peter Ahmedu,told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)

‘’My players take to instructions and play according to how we plan;their execution of every game plan on the court is a justification of how prepared they are.”

“We hope to continue like this as we intend to make the final four of the Atlantic Conference,’’ he said.