Three-time African champions, the Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria have mentioned they’ve lengthy concluded a prognosis of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with neighbours Equatorial Guinea and searching very a lot ahead to what they imagine will probably be an ‘fascinating encounter’ with host nation Cote d’Ivoire on the thirty fourth Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.
The table-topping Elephants, two-time champions of the continental competitors, will look to guide an early Spherical of 16 ticket by defeating Nigeria on the newly-built Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe, whereas podium appearance-leaders Nigeria, joint-second on the group A log, are decided to wrestle all of the factors and improve their prospects of a slot within the knockout rounds.
Defender William Ekong, who led out the squad on Sunday, has appealed to Nigerians from all walks of life to maintain supporting the crew as they look for all three factors towards the hosts on their very own turf on Thursday night.
“We went all out to choose the three factors towards Equatorial Guinea, however it did not occur. We stay to battle one other day. From our facet, we’re interesting to Nigerians from everywhere in the world to maintain supporting and believing within the crew. Our goal is to first attain the knockout rounds after which we push strongly from there.”
Nigeria created alternative after alternative towards the Thunder, however poor ending ensured a 1-1 draw and share of the spoils on Sunday afternoon.
Coach José Peseiro has been supplied with choices within the fore with the arrivals of Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi, and the camp believes strongly that the crew that scored 22 targets in qualifying (greater than every other crew within the sequence) may begin firing higher on Thursday.
“We anticipate a tricky recreation as a result of the Ivorians are the hosts and they’re additionally high of our group. However we now have our aspirations as properly and we imagine in ourselves,” defender Kenneth Omeruo mentioned on Monday.
Half of the squad spent Monday morning within the gymnasium earlier than the night coaching session, which was open to the media.
The stature of Thursday’s encounter has been enhanced by present realities across the two groups, however it was all the time going to be a recreation to behold because the draw was made, as matches between each international locations at senior stage have been livid and feisty on the terrain, and even outdoors it.
