Nigeria U-19 coach under fire

But Coach Felix-Ibe Ukwu and his girls have come under fierce pressure after Nigeria's unconvincing 0-0 draw against the South Africa’s Basetsana in Abeokuta.

The hosts won the tie thanks to a first leg victory in Johannesburg and the nervy moment is unsettling Felix Ibe.

"The game was tough but the most important thing is that we won to book our place in Thailand," he told Nigeriasports.com

"We played against a determined and strong side in the South Africans but such tough moments should be expected after we won the first leg.

Ibe then received an equally frosty reception from the Nigerian journalists in the after-match press conference.

When pressed about the insipid performance that brought the ticket, Ibe came up with a succession of excuses.

"I had a strong game plan but we struggled to get the goals and such things are what counts in football," he admitted.

Some journalists claimed the South African Coach (Seakamela William) was more superior in tactics in the second half and the visitors were unlucky not to get a deserved win.

"It's true that we missed chances and went on the defence, but I think that can be explained by the fact that the players have been under a lot of pressure from the crowd.

"The press can only help us to get better and not victimising the team or the coach."

Ibe was in July accused of a sexual scandal before the start of this qualifying campaign by the local media but he got the FA’s backing, and he is clearly hanging onto his job by a thin thread.