Former Nigerian manager, Christian Chukwu has said Nigerians have every reason to be happy qualifying for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.
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Super Eagles were beaten 0-2 by the Elephants of lvory Coast in the CHAN West Zone B final fixture at the astro turf of Stade Robert Champroux Robert in Abidjan on Saturday but the Nigerians qualify for the biennial football fiesta on 4-3 aggregate. Kevin Koelly Zougoula scored a brace for the Ivorians in the first half of the tension soaked encounter.
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Chukwu said though the outcome of the near one- sided encounter is not pleasant the most important thing is that Nigeria's flag will be hoisted at the CHAN game in South Africa next year.
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"The most important thing is the qualification of Nigeria for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) coming up in South Africa next year.
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"The result is not a good one losing by 0-2 which showed that the Ivorians didn't go to sleep after the side conceded 1-4 to the Eagles in Kaduna, Nigeria.
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"I'm not surprised at their resilience as it has always been the same right from our playing days, the never-say-die attitude of a typical Ivorian team," said the former Nigerian strongman to supersport.com.
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Chukwu said Eagles must pick a lesson from the encounter against the Ivorians as they head to South Africa for the CHAN game that football is not won until it is practically and seen won.
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"The lesson stare us in the face and that's it's not over until it's over. Maybe we went to bed and allowed complacency to creep in after we won the first fixture 4-1 so as we're through to South Africa we must have it at the back of our minds.
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"But if report from the match is to be believed Eagles played below expectation and that's a course for concern because we're not merely going to South Africa to make up the numbers but to win.
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"It means Eagles' manager, Stephen Keshi has lots of work to do, to shop for more quality players that'll deliver the goods in South Africa," said the former Green Eagles captain.
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Nigeria were onlookers in the past two editions hosted by Sudan and Ivory Coast in 2009 and 2011 respectively.
Cristian Chukwu and Nigerians should definately be happy with that because it's a good achievement. To win is always good. Nyc one.