• Chukwu Charges Players Not To Underestimate Opponents

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles were in Monrovia to snatch all three points at stake against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone today. Gusau said though the game would not be easy, the team was prepared to work hard and take the three points, adding that Nigeria the players to do the country proud by winning and qualifying for the next Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The Head Coach, José Santos Peseiro, stating that neither himself nor the players were looking forward to a picnic at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium, venue of today’s match. The match kicks off at 4pm Liberia time.

“We know the Sierra Leoneans are also ambitious, that they want to win the three points and enhance their chances. It is our business to show that we want the three points better to qualify for the Africa Cup, and we are prepared to do that.

Presently, Nigeria is second in the pool with nine points from four matches, a point behind Guinea Bissau, who have played five matches and reached the top following their defeat of Sao Tome on Wednesday. Victory for the Eagles today will lift them back to the top of the pile and guarantee presence at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Cote d’Ivoire next year.

Nigeria defeated Sierra Leone home and away (1-0 and 4-0) in the qualifying series for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa and then defeated the Leone Stars 2-1 in a friendly match in Lagos in February 2011. In a WAFU Cup encounter in September 2017, the Eagles were 2-0 winners.

Both teams clashed twice in the qualifying series for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Leone Stars coming from 1-4 down to draw 4-4 in Benin City, and then forcing a 0-0 draw in Freetown. In this campaign, the Eagles came from behind to defeat the Leone Stars 2-1 at the MKO Abiola Stadium in June 2022, on the opening day of the qualifiers. Speaking With The Guardian yesterday, Former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu said the Eagles have to work hard from the beginning of the game to secure victory against Sierra Leone. He called on them not to underrate their opponents.

He noted that the result of the first leg of the AFCON qualifier encounter, which ended 2-1 at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, clearly showed that the Leone Stars are not a team to underestimate. Nigeria’s delegation for the duel arrived in the Liberian capital, Monrovia yesterday morning, aboard a chartered Air Peace airline Embraer 195.

The Aircraft, conveying the contingent of 23 players, technical and administrative staff and a few other officials led by President of NFF, Gusau, landed at the Roberts International Airport at 11.08 am local time (12.08 pm in Nigeria), and was received by the Ambassador of Nigeria to Liberia, His Excellency Godfrey A. E. Odudigbo, the Head of Chancery, Ms Stella Ahumibe and a few other mission staff.

There were also members of the Nigerian community in Monrovia, led by Deacon Harrison Anikwu as well as officials of the Liberia Football Association. (The Guardian)

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