Nigeria’s Tremendous Eagles stated they’ve put behind them the Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea and are trying ahead to what they imagine will probably be an ‘fascinating encounter’ with host nation Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.
The Cote d’Ivoire’s Elephants will probably be seeking to ebook an early Spherical of 16 ticket by beating Nigeria on the newly-built Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe, whereas Nigeria’s Eagles will combat to wrestle all of the three factors and improve their prospects of advancing to the subsequent spherical of the competitors.
Defender William Troost-Ekong, who led out the squad on Sunday, appealed to Nigerians from all walks of life to maintain supporting the workforce as they search for all three factors in opposition to the hosts on their very own turf on Thursday night.
“We went all out to select the three factors in opposition to Equatorial Guinea, however it did not occur. We reside to combat one other day. From our facet, we’re interesting to Nigerians from all around the world to maintain supporting and believing within the workforce. Our goal is to first attain the knockout rounds after which we push strongly from there.”
Nigeria created alternative after alternative in opposition to 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 workforce can now begin firing higher.
“We anticipate a troublesome sport as a result of the Ivorians are the hosts and they’re additionally high of our group. However we’ve our aspirations as nicely and we imagine in ourselves,” defender Kenneth Omeruo stated on Monday.
The workforce handler Jose Peseiro emphasised the necessity for his boys to transform their possibilities within the second match in opposition to hosts Cote d’Ivoire as he rued the missed possibilities in opposition to Equatorial Guinea of their opening match.
He assured a extra composed outing in opposition to the Ivorians. “Our workforce created a whole lot of possibilities in our final sport, however we scored just one aim.
“If you wish to win the AFCON, you have to be able to face powerful opposition. So, we’re prepared, Cote d’Ivoire is an effective workforce and one of many favourites.
“If we create the identical alternatives and take our possibilities, then we’ve a greater probability of profitable in opposition to Cote d’Ivoire,” he stated.
The gaffer stated the technical crew was working around the clock to good methods and guarantee victory within the make or mar match.
He, nevertheless, appealed to Nigerians to proceed to assist the workforce and never have interaction in criticism that would dampen the morale of the gamers.
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 at all times going to be a sport to behold for the reason that draw was made, as matches between each international locations at senior stage have been livid and feisty on the terrain, and even outdoors it.
Each international locations first clashed on the Africa Cup of Nations when Nigeria hosted in 1980. The encounter on the Nationwide Stadium, Surulere ended scoreless, and it was Nigeria’s second sport (as it will likely be on Thursday) of the event. The Eagles needed to defeat Egypt of their third match to qualify for the semi finals (wherein they pipped Morocco 1-0) to make progress, and ultimately win the trophy for the primary time.
Ten years later, each international locations once more clashed within the group part, with Rashidi Yekini (of blessed reminiscence) scoring the match’s solely aim after simply three minutes in Annaba. The Eagles ultimately made it to the Ultimate, dropping 0-1 to the host nation, Algeria.
In 1994, each groups clashed within the semi-finals on the Stade El Menzah in Tunis. It led to a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw, with petite Michel Bassole scoring for the Ivorians and Yekini and Benedict Iroha netting for Nigeria. Yekini scored the profitable penalty for the Eagles, and Nigeria notched her second crown by defeating Zambia 2-1 within the Ultimate
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In 2006, each groups met within the semi-finals in Alexandria, with the Ivorians operating away 1-0 winners. Two years later, the Ivorians had been once more 1-0 winners after Salomon Kalou scored the one aim in a gaggle part encounter within the Ghanaian metropolis of Sekondi.
In 2013, on their technique to a 3rd triumph, the Eagles edged the Elephants 2-1 in a quarter-final like no different on the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba scored for Nigeria.
In-between, there have been FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures, probably the most memorable of which stay the 2 matches between each groups within the race to USA 1994.
In Abidjan on 2nd Might, 1993, Yekini scored after solely 5 minutes, however Abdoulaye Traore and Ibrahim Ouattara received the targets that gave the Elephants victory on the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny. In Lagos 4 months later, targets by Yekini (a brace), Daniel Amokachi and Thompson Oliha handed Nigeria a 4-1 win. The Eagles went forward to qualify for his or her first-ever FIFA World Cup finals.
