Ex-international, Ifeanyi Udeze, has warned Super Eagles to get themselves together and act as a unit before locking horns against the Indomitable Lions of Cemeroon in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations contest in Egypt.
The ex-Super Eagles defender, popularly called the Man Wey Sabi, in BrilaFM radio, said from the information he gathered from Egypt, the Eagles camp has not been the same since their 0-2 loss to Madagascar in the last preliminary duel of Group B.
According to him, the coach, Gernot Rohr, is yet to pull the players together, shortly after a minor misunderstanding that erupted among the players.
He said the coach is stubborn and he does not take advise from anybody on how to make the team a winning side.
He however predicted a tough match for Nigeria and Cameroon will go all out to clip the Eagles wings.
Three –time champions Nigeria and five –time winners Cameroon go toe-to-toe in an Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match that could well determine the future of new squads being built by both nations.
Both teams finished runner –up in their respective groups despite being rated to top, and low fire power is a constant variable in both camps with only two goals in each team’s kitty.
On their part, Nigeria failed to reach the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, and despite earning a ticket to Egypt with a match to spare, analysts have drawn daggers for Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr on perceived lack of bravery in selection and lack of clear playing pattern of his team.
While Nigeria appears to be seeing the last active days of captain Mikel Obi on the international road, Cameroon have excluded big goal-poacher Vincent Aboubakar from this tournament altogether.
Yet, all things must fall nicely in place for the Super Eagles on Saturday as they seek a place in the tournament quarter finals, with young horses Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Wilfred Ndidi, Ola Aina, Chidozie Awaziem and even the experienced Odion Ighalo aware they cannot afford to falter at this stage in their AFCON debut.
With Mikel injured and certain to be on the bench, the burden is on Ahmed Musa’s shoulders to rally the troop from the humiliation by Madagascar and launch offensive after offensive that will break down the traditionally –strong Lions rearguard.
While Nigeria’s senior team has not played many games on 6thJuly in the past, they pipped Tunisia 1-0 in a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Lagos on 6th July 1985. Other matches prosecuted in the month of July include a 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying defeat of Tunisia (2-0) in Lagos on 12th July 1980; a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying defeat of Algeria (4-1) in Lagos on 13th July 1993; a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying defeat of Sudan (4-0) in Omdurman on 1st July 2001 and; a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying defeat of Algeria (1-0) in Abuja on 3rd July 2004.
AFCON 2019 ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES
Egypt Vs South Africa
Madagascar Vs DR Congo
Nigeria Vs Cameroon
Senegal Vs Uganda
Algeria Vs Guinea
Morocco Vs Benin Republic
Mali Vs Cote d’Ivoire
Ghana Vs Tunisia
