Coach Stephen Keshi ahead of today’s game against Ethiopia has warned the Super Eagles against creating opportunities that may cost them this crucial game.
The Super Eagles has towed this pattern of play since the beginning of the Afcon 2013 after Burkina Faso and Zambia both scored late goals to draw 1-1 against Nigeria, a move which caused the Super Eagles the group lead when it was almost certain that they would close out both games.
According to Keshi, the Super Eagles will no longer give the opposition any opportunity to come back into matches henceforth if they are to have a progression into the competition, promising that there will be no repeat of the first two matches in the final group game against Ethiopia and this was after a long discussion with the Super Eagles players.
“I am not sure there is any team leading a game that would want to give away the lead but these things happen and that is why it is football,” Keshi said.
“I have talked to my players and whatever we have to do (to prevent this from happening against Ethiopia) is within us,” Keshi added.
The final group match which comes up later today at 6pm (Nigerian time) will be played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg and it is a ‘must win’ for the Super Eagles of Nigeria to advance to the next round.
Meanwhile, defender Joseph Yobo has been confined to the bench in the game against Ethiopia as the defender is yet to recover from the same ankle injury which he suffered since Eagles’ first game against Burkina Faso.
This is the second match the injury-hit skipper will be missing since the tournament kick-started.
Coach Keshi also confirmed that the duo of Ike Uche, Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses will be included in today’s attack against the Ethiopians.
