8th ANC: Home Based Eagles Condemn to Beat Sudan to Avoid Early Exit
Abuja (Core Reporters) Nigeria home-based senior national team (Super Eagles B) are condemned to win their next match on Tuesday, August 12, against the Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane in a must-win game in order to avoid early exit at the ongoing 8th edition of the African Nations Championship.
Eagles are paired alongside the defending champion; Senegal, Sudan and Congo’s Devils in Group D. Meanwhile, Eagles lost to Senegal in the group opening last week at Amaan Stadium on the island of Zanzibar
Head Coach Eric Chelle admitted after Tuesday’s setback that his wards must go into clear-eyed overdrive to cut the feathers of the Falcons and go ahead to drive Congo’s Devils into the ditch a week later, to stand any realistic chance of making it to the knockout rounds in the rather irregular 19-nation finals.
“I just want to win this game against Sudan; this is my game project. We are under pressure but we are ambitious and must win tomorrow. This game is the most important for us because a win can bring something good for the team,” Chelle said at Monday’s pre-match press conference.
Team captain Nduka Harrison Junior said: “We want to take each game as it comes, and next for us is Sudan. The previous game was a setback and not a disaster. We have a point to prove and we are ready to correct our mistakes.”
The Falcons, who also had their spirit dampened by a late equalizer that ensured they took home only one point instead of three in their clash with Congo just before the Nigeria and Senegal tango, are however poised for a fight on the Indian Ocean Island.
“Nigeria is one of the biggest nations in African football and we respect them, but we won’t fear them. I don’t believe in any rivalry; this is a game and the best team will win. I have watched only one game of the Nigerian team and can’t assess them based on one game. I don’t see any player as a threat, but the entire team,” said Kwesi Appiah, head coach of Sudan.
