Players and officials of the Super Eagles have expressed that they are completely prepared for the tricks of the Desert Foxes of Algeria in the present elimination round game at the on-going Total Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Today’s semi-final game holding at the Cairo International Stadium is labelled: ‘Final before the final’ of the competition, and the Super Eagles have said that they know the undertaking in front of them.
Talking at a pre-coordinated gathering yesterday in Cairo, Super Eagles full back, Kenneth Omeruo said they wouldn’t tumble to the football jokes of the Algerians, which they are known for.
“The Algerians are known for their football antics; trying to provoke opponents to commit fouls. But we will take care of it. Our coach always says no foul, particularly around the 18-yard box. That will be our weapon in the match against the Algerians. We will beat them to their antics,” he stated.
Omeruo, who scored Super Eagles’ only goal in the second Group B coordinate against the Syli Nationale of Guinea in Alexandria, nonetheless, expressed that the present match would be intense.
“Any opponent at this stage of the competition is a tough team. We watched the match between Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire, and we saw how the Algerians played. But the Super Eagles is equally a tough team. We have players, who are capable of handling any situation. I am sure we will beat Algeria.”
Mentor Gernot Rohr said he would march the best squad in the present elimination round, saying: “We have given some young players the opportunity to prove themselves in this competition. This is the semifinal and we have to parade our best. So far, the players have given a good account of themselves in this competition. They have given a good image of the country, fighting on. And we will continue to fight on until we win the trophy.”
In spite of wiping out certain heavyweights in the challenge, including the safeguarding champions, Indomitable Lions of Cameroun and ‘difficult’ Bafana of South Africa, Rohr says the Eagles ought not to be labelled the most loved for the trophy.
“All the four teams in the semifinal are favourites for the title. I can only say we are second favourite.”
In the interim, an Algerian player, Sidi Abed has announced that they would do everything to vanquish the Eagles in the present elimination round, saying: “Nigeria has good players, but we know where to go and how to go about it tomorrow (today).”
