Super Eagles seek redemption against Squirrels of Benin
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Nigeria have a chance for redemption when they face Benin in a crucial 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Group C encounter in Benguela today evening.
The Super Eagles were humbled 3-1 by Egypt in their opener on Tuesday, this despite taking the lead through the excellent Chinedu Obasi, and are desperately in need of points in what could be a tight pool.
Benin will be ruing let a two-goal lead slip in their first match, allowing Mozambique to come back for a 2-2 draw.
There has been a lot of talk in the Nigerian camp this week about raising their game, with crises meetings amongst the players and coaching staff, and striker Yakubu lamenting the lack of creativity in midfield.
There has even been talk that coach Shuaibu Amodu will be sacked mid-tournament if his side does not beat Benin, though this has been denied by the Nigerian Football Federation.
But true or not it speaks volumes of the mood within in the camp, and one wonders just what the response will from the players should they go a goal down in this one.
Amodu was cutting in his criticism of his players, believing he had sent out the right side with the right tactics against Egypt, but that the team had not followed his instructions.
“We started well but my players lack of concentration in crucial moments resulted to the two goals and that was all. We will work on those areas we feel that need attention and I believe we will win the two remaining matches to qualify from the group,” Amodu says.
The Super Eagles will have striker Obafemi Martins available after he briefly left the tournament due to a pending court case brought against him by a former agent in England.
They should also have winger Osaze Odemwingie available after he recovered from an injury which kept him out of the Pharaohs game.
“We have no choice than to beat Benin on Saturday,” Odemwingie says. “I don’t see them surviving the game because we know that anything short of victory may work against us and we have resolved to put everything into the match.”
Benin have a couple of Nigeria-born players in their side, namely Razak Omotoyossi and Muri Ogunbiyi, and coach Michel Dussuyer says he expects them to feature prominently against the country of their birth.
“They are good players. You know, they did well last year and I am sure they will do their best against Nigeria,” Dussuyer says. “These players are important for our squad and I am sure they will be battle ready for the game.”
The teams have met on two previous occasions in the Nations Cup, with Nigeria recording a 2-1 win in 2004 and a 2-0 success in 2008.
Benin have won just one match in their 14 previous matches, all the way back in 1963 when the country was still known as Dahomey.
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Super Eagles seek redemption against Squirrels of Benin
Category: Sports Written by . Hits: 518
Nigeria have a chance for redemption when they face Benin in a crucial 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Group C encounter in Benguela today evening.
The Super Eagles were humbled 3-1 by Egypt in their opener on Tuesday, this despite taking the lead through the excellent Chinedu Obasi, and are desperately in need of points in what could be a tight pool.
Benin will be ruing let a two-goal lead slip in their first match, allowing Mozambique to come back for a 2-2 draw.
There has been a lot of talk in the Nigerian camp this week about raising their game, with crises meetings amongst the players and coaching staff, and striker Yakubu lamenting the lack of creativity in midfield.
There has even been talk that coach Shuaibu Amodu will be sacked mid-tournament if his side does not beat Benin, though this has been denied by the Nigerian Football Federation.
But true or not it speaks volumes of the mood within in the camp, and one wonders just what the response will from the players should they go a goal down in this one.
Amodu was cutting in his criticism of his players, believing he had sent out the right side with the right tactics against Egypt, but that the team had not followed his instructions.
“We started well but my players lack of concentration in crucial moments resulted to the two goals and that was all. We will work on those areas we feel that need attention and I believe we will win the two remaining matches to qualify from the group,” Amodu says.
The Super Eagles will have striker Obafemi Martins available after he briefly left the tournament due to a pending court case brought against him by a former agent in England.
They should also have winger Osaze Odemwingie available after he recovered from an injury which kept him out of the Pharaohs game.
“We have no choice than to beat Benin on Saturday,” Odemwingie says. “I don’t see them surviving the game because we know that anything short of victory may work against us and we have resolved to put everything into the match.”
Benin have a couple of Nigeria-born players in their side, namely Razak Omotoyossi and Muri Ogunbiyi, and coach Michel Dussuyer says he expects them to feature prominently against the country of their birth.
“They are good players. You know, they did well last year and I am sure they will do their best against Nigeria,” Dussuyer says. “These players are important for our squad and I am sure they will be battle ready for the game.”
The teams have met on two previous occasions in the Nations Cup, with Nigeria recording a 2-1 win in 2004 and a 2-0 success in 2008.
Benin have won just one match in their 14 previous matches, all the way back in 1963 when the country was still known as Dahomey.