Bashir – “Our last game is equally important”

Sudan striker Mohamed Bashir remains optimistic of their chances of advancing to the next round of the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations.

 

With just a point from their two previous games, the Sudanese find themselves in a very tight corner with their hopes of playing at the quarter finals hinging heavily on the outcome of the other Group B match involving Cote d’Ivoire and Angola in Malabo.

 

The Ivorians, who have six points have already qualified and are two points richer than Angola.

 

Despite the arithmetic connotation surrounding their chances, Bashir, the scorer of Sudan’s first ever goal in 36-years at the tournament believes they stand a realistic chance of going through.

 

“Of course, we have a realistic chance of qualifying. It is our dream and that of all Sudanese, and we are working feverishly towards that. This makes our last game is equally important,” Bashir told Cafonline.com.

 

After breaking the goal jinx, the 28-year old forward who plays for Al-Hilal has declared a quarter final berth as the next target of the team.

 

“We are happy to break the goal-jinx. The next target comes with some level of pressure, but we are determined to achieve it as well.”

 

After scoring two goals against Angola, Bashir says it is the just the beginning of better things to come from him.

 

“I am on fire now, and nobody can stop me from scoring. Everyone is talking about Sudan and we want to maintain our performance.

 

The Desert Hawks have not reached the knockout stage since 1970, when they won the title on home soil.