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Sunday Oliseh © Action Images

Eagles' Confed Cup race intact - Oliseh

Former Nigerian midfielder, Sunday Oliseh has said Super Eagles are very much in the semifinals qualification race at the ongoing 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Eagles fell to the Uruguayan foes, La Celeste 1-2 in the group’s second game in the early hours of Friday at the Arena Fonte Nova in the city of Salvador to still hang precariously on the second spot with the last decisive group game against leaders, Spain coming up on Sunday in Fortaleza.

Oliseh said nothing is certain in football until the encounter in question is decided in direct reference to the herculean game against the European and World champions, Spain.

“All is not lost for the Super Eagles against the Spaniards. In football nothing is conclusively lost until the game is played. Eagles can still pull a surprise against Spain, so it’s not over for them,” said the former Nigerian captain to supersport.com.

Oliseh accused Eagles of being clay-footed in the 1-2 loss to the South American champions, Uruguay in the second group game.

“Eagles showed no pace in their passes, the opponents, Uruguay had it all and we’re not shooting to compound the problems of the night.

“Nothing to blame Eagles’ goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama for Diego Forlan thundering goal for his side, the passes enroute to the goal were quick and the finishing precise and excellent,” he said.

Diego Lugano and Diego Forlan scored for the South American champions while central midfielder, John Obi Mikel pulled one back for the reigning African champions.

Eagles hope of qualification to the semifinals of the global football fiesta will be decided by their performance against Spain’s Furia Roja (Red Fury) at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza as well as the outcome in the tie involving the Oceania champions, Tahiti and Uruguay on Sunday.