For the first time ever, the Super Eagles tutored by Stephen Keshi have qualified for the Orange Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), a competition featuring players who are active in the national championships. <br /><br />That qualification did not come on a platter of gold. This evening in Abidjan, Nigeria lost 2 - 0 to Ivory Coast but qualified for the tournament in South Africa on the back of their 4 - 1 win in the first leg held in Kaduna about two weeks ago.<br /><br />Sewe Sports striker Koelly Kevin Zougoula opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute and further eased the pressure on the Elephants by netting a second goal from the spot in the 24th minute, after Rabiu Mohammed fouled an Ivorian player inside the 18 - yard box.<br /><br />Despite some frantic efforts from Ivory Coast to score the third goal, Nigeria soldiered on and advanced to the tournament in South Africa.<br /><br />16 African teams will compete for honors in the third edition of the Africa Nations Championship from January 10 - February 1, 2014.