IN the same way the 40,000 fans that watched the AFCON qualifier between Nigeria and Egypt in Kaduna last Friday clamored towards the end of the match, for the inclusion of Victor Moses. Fans have started calling on Coach Samson Siasia give Victor Moses more playing time in the rematch coming up on Wednesday. Former Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen also picked holes in the decision to go all out against Egypt towards the end of the game rather than get players behind the ball and see the game out. Super Eagles conceded a late equalizer which further tips qualification for the African Cup of Nations slightly off balance.
Eguavoen maintains that the Eagles could have earned all three points on the day and remains confident the race is still open for Samson Siasia’s men. A member of Nigeria’s 1994 Afcon title winning Eagles, Eguavoen also expressed disappointment at ‘certain big name players’ who couldn’t provide the team with goals. Siasia started Watford FC forward, Odion Ighalo, CSKA Moscow’s Ahmed Musa and KAA Gent’s Moses Simon in the 3-man attack, but the team’s goal came off the boots of 20 year-old unattached midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo and Eguavoen rued Nigeria’s lack of precision in front of goal.
However, it was not all gloom and doom for the Eagles in Eguavoen’s eyes as he saved some praise for the team’s shot stopper, Carl Ikeme for 2 point blank saves to keep Nigeria from trailing Egypt early on in the game. He declared that the team was ‘still very much in the race’ to qualify for Afcon 2017 and put up an impressive performance.
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On Austin Eguavoen’s statement that the Nigerian side is still very much in the game (even though he seem to be missing the part that a game can produce a goal at any time which was why the team failed to secure its lead against Egypt in the 1-1 draw in Kaduna). National Daily Sports asked some fans what the approach should be in the second leg, all out attack or conservative approach?
Samuel Samudodo Akindeko says, “Tension must not overpower the players, the game in Kaduna has proven we have good team. Changes should be made in the attacking line up; The Pharaohs will be in total defense so Musa and Moses should start so as to penetrate the defense. Am confident eagles will win”. Another commenter, Ayodele Bajomo thinks that an all attack strategy will be self destructive, “An all out attack will not augur well for us given that our back line is not too convincing. Notwithstanding that we need to win the match, our players should not be overanxious as that will make them to miss obvious scoring chances. In all they should be calm, play to their optimum ability and avoid unnecessary contacts within the box as these Egyptians are clever in looking for cheap penalty. I wish the Eagles well as I believe they are beatable at home”. Another person who shares same opinion on having a solid defense for the day is Adewale Ibrahim, “The defense should remain focus for the whole duration of the game because they can’t hold us from scoring. We will score but the defenders and the central midfielders should shield Ikeme very well.”
David Eshiofune says we should keep the balls short, “We shouldn’t play long balls…make short passes to break the Egyptian defense…Improve on our finishing… Echiejile, Moses, Iwobi should start.Moses Simon should be benched and we should play a fast paced game not walking with the ball…But I still see a draw in Alexandria”.