Keshi earned stay of execution with Nigeria win - Dosu

The ex-international claims the Super Eagles' victory against the Falcons of Jediane will help ease the pressure on the national team and their coach

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Joseph Dosu believes that his nation's 3-1 win against Sudan on Wednesday has saved Stephen Keshi from being fired.

Going into the game against Mohamed Abdalla's side, the former Mali and Togo coach had faced barrage of criticisms following his side’s poor streak in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying series where they were able to manage a point in three games.

Dosu, who won Olympic gold with Nigeria 18 years ago, thinks the win has potentially saved Keshi's job but was worried by the Super Eagles' lack of composure compared to the unfancied visitors.

"I must confess that the Sudanese were more coordinated than the Super Eagles," he told Goal. "They held on to the ball, passed the ball without stress and they were able to move freely from the defence to the middle down to the attack.

"For now, I think it will bring the tension down because everybody will relax a bit and see how other games go but I think its good for Keshi, he won, because if the game had ended in a draw or defeat that could have been the end as Eagles’ coach.

"As it stands now, the tension would go down though whether he continues or not remains the question but I can assure you that he will be given the benefit of doubt to be in charge and it is good his team won today."

Nigeria are the reigning Afcon champions but they might need to win their last two matches to have any chance of reaching the finals next year - but Dosu is simply relieved that Keshi's men avoided the nightmare of dropping more points.

"We wanted the victory badly, but then we’re still behind Congo and South Africa," he added. "With this, we hope to beat Congo away then return home and defeat South Africa.

"Let’s see how it goes but the most important thing now is to win our remaining two games to stand a chance of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, but the most important thing is this victory."

South Africa's 0-0 draw with Congo has fortuitously left both African nations within Nigeria's sights in Group A.