Senegal celebrate after a historic win

Senegal beat us at the African Nations Cup semi-final, so I am aware of their their capabilities.

Holding on to a 1-0 lead for over an hour was very difficult but El Hadji Diouf, Ferdinand Coly and Khalilou Fadiga did their duty.

Keeping a striker like Thierry Henry at bay is not an easy thing for any defender to do but Coly did a superb job.

The Lions are now in a comfortable position because the other teams now have to chase them to secure a qualification spot.

All they have to do is get another win and they have booked their passage to the second round.

It is important that they remain focussed to achieve this aim.

Having been at two World Cups, I know the importance of negotiating your first game, as it can determine your fate in the tournament.

El Hadji Diouf is one of the best players in Africa, if not the best at the moment.

Fans in Dakar went wild in celebration

But he had to prove it at the World Cup, which he did magnificently.

He played a selfless game and was excellent in one on one situations with Desailly, Leboeuf and Lizarazu.

After a great performance in the opening game, the pressure is now on the other African countries to do the continent proud at this World Cup.

I have gone through some of the emails that you sent me before the tournament and here are my replies.

What do you think about Okocha being captain of the Super Eagles?

Fon Julius, a Cameroonian in the United States

In every group, there are players who betray the team.

When a team have decided to do something and some people decide to do something else, what can I say?

If someone decides to be the captain knowing that half of the players that enabled Nigeria qualify are not there and you go on to accept the job, I can only say congratulations to such a person.

How do you feel about not being in the squad?

Kennedy Boboye, England

If I really wanted to play for the team, I believe that I would have been there.

But why would I want to return as captain to a team where Victor Agali and Yakubu Aiyegbeni have been dropped?

Even if Finidi George and I are not going to the World Cup, how could our team's top scorers during the qualifiers be ignored?

In any case, I have served the nation, so maybe it is time for others to play their part.

Sunday Oliseh, do you feel that you are bigger than Nigeria?

If not, why can't you apologize to all Nigerians for your bad behaviour at Mali 2002?

Popoola Jeleel, a concerned Nigerian.

I can see that you have been misinformed.

I have no reason to apologise to anybody for serving Nigeria and losing a tournament.

As the captain of Nigeria at the African Nations Cup, I will never have accepted a situation where players pay for their flight tickets and do not get their money back from officials.

And I was never rude to the sports minister.

Our grievances at the Nations Cup were directed to Patrick Ekeji (a director in Nigeria's sports ministry). He accused us of trying to inflate our ticket fares when it is officials that have been cheating the players for a long time.

What a shame you're not at the World Cup. Can't you do something about the way football is organised in Nigeria?

Tunde Orebiyi, Nigeria

The people appointed to administer football must understand the game. People that have never played football or run a club should not be at the helm of affairs.

Oliseh will continue to answer your emails during the competition.

If you have any questions to ask him, email them, with your full address, to [email protected].

As we expect several questions, short and concise emails would be given priority.