Eric Chelle, Head Coach of the Super Eagles, has assured Nigerians that his players are focused on securing the three points against Madagascar in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo.
Chelle gave the assurance at a pre-match press conference in Uyo on Thursday.
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He said the team had put the outcome of its previous World Cup qualifier behind it and was ready for the match against Madagascar on Friday.
“It is our job to manage pressure, as the qualifiers start tomorrow. We have to be ready for the group match.
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“For us and the country, there is a big game tomorrow. We had our last training session today and we have prepared well for this game,” Chelle said.
The coach said the team was well motivated to win the match and signal to other teams in the group and around the world that the Super Eagles were ready.
“The first idea is to give a signal to everybody that Nigeria is a good team, and my players are in good state of mind and understand what’s at stake.
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“This isn’t time to have doubts because we are in Uyo to win. My players on the field will be very aggressive and put a lot of intensity,” he said.
Chelle said the players are ambitious and determined at every moment, training session and game to ensure victory.
On the injured players, the coach said Femi Azeez, Victor Osimhen, Dele Bashiru and others would have been invited, but assured that the available players would deliver.
Chelle admitted that the game could be difficult because Madagascar, a good team, defeated Nigeria at the 2019 AFCON, but said the Super Eagles would fight until the end.
Also speaking, Wilfred Ndidi, the team captain, said the experience of the last World Cup qualifiers was bad.
He admitted that the team started the World Cup qualifiers poorly, which affected their performance, but assured that such would not happen again.
“We are going to approach this game with all seriousness because the first game in every competition is very important.
“We’re focused to set the momentum in these qualifiers to build our confidence ahead of subsequent games,” Ndidi said.
He said the team was ready and focused and would do its best to secure maximum points on Friday.
“I don’t know about other teams in the group, but for us, as the coach said, pressure is part of our game, so we try to play through the pressure.
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“The most important thing is that as a team, we are ready to make Nigerians proud against Madagascar. We don’t care who qualified in other groups,” Ndidi said.
On his part, Corentin Martins, Head Coach of Madagascar, speaking through an interpreter, said his team are in Uyo to win the match.
He said that Madagascar defeated Nigeria in 2019 but said the team in Uyo was a different one.
“We know Nigeria has a good team and they have great players playing in different parts of the world, but we will give our best.
“Our main objective is to qualify for the 2027 AFCON,” Martins said.
He said they were happy that Osimhen would not be playing but acknowledged that Nigeria had other great players capable of causing damage.
Martins said his team arrived early in Nigeria to acclimatise to the environment and prepare adequately for Friday’s encounter.(NAN)
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