Pressure is mounting on Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi, with growing unhappiness about his handling of the team and as the African champions risk elimination from next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles, who won the competition in 2013, are currently bottom of Group A after a shock 1-0 defeat away to Sudan and just a single point from three games in the qualifiers.

Nigeria host Sudan, who are now third in the standings with three points, in a return fixture on Wednesday in the capital, Abuja.

Next month, they travel to second-placed Congo, who defeated them 3-2 in September, before the arrival of group leaders South Africa.

Nigeria have to win all three matches and hope other results go their way if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the finals in Morocco in January.

Keshi, whose position has been the subject of repeated speculation, has apologised for the defeat to Sudan but at the same time claimed there was a conspiracy to ensure that he fails.

“There is a sabotage by some people. I won’t mention their names but they know themselves. They want to run this team down,” he claimed.

“Some people are ready to sell this country for a dime. They want to sabotage the Super Eagles.

“It’s a shame. They don’t want this team to get to the AFCON (Nations Cup), they want this team to lose outright. But they are not God.

“And this is not Keshi’s team. Keshi is a professional coach and after this (assignment), he will get another job elsewhere.”

– Boos and brickbats –

Nigeria fans awaiting the team’s return from Sudan at Abuja airport on Sunday roundly booed the players and question marks about Keshi’s future dominated the country’s media on Monday.

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