Dean helps down Super Eagles as reigning AFCON champions, Nigeria, are dumped out in qualifying.
Doncaster Rovers midfielder Dean Furman captained his country to a 2-2 draw with Nigeria on Thursday, thus leading South Africa to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.The 26 year old has recently taken up the skipper’s mantle and, after a 2-1 win over Sudan at the weekend, he aided the Bafana cause against a Super Eagles side containing Chelsea’s Jon Obi Mikel and Hull City’s Sone Aluko in Uyo, Nigeria.
Despite the visitors being reduced to ten men, Furman’s team rallied and were good value for the point which cemented their spot at the top of the group and will see them head to the relocated AFCON 2015 host country, Equatorial Guinea, in January.
The former Oldham Athletic midfielder will be available for selection for Saturday’s game against Rochdale at Spotland once he returns to British soil.
“Dean will be involved in the squad,” affirmed Rovers manager Paul Dickov.
“As normal, when he goes away, he wont be back in the country until Friday afternoon so he'll be in the squad and available.”
When questioned about whether Furman’s elevation to the South Africa captain’s role made him an automatic starter for his club side, Dickov responded: “Dean's missed the last couple of games but he's played the majority of games for us this season. Reverting to the 4-4-2 with Paul Keegan and Richie Wellens has worked and it's up to the rest of the lads to force their way in.”