Date: Saturday, October 17th
Kick-off Time: 4 p.m
Venue: Adokiye Amiesieamaka Stadium,Port Harcourt.
Nigeria are aware of the threat posed by visiting Burkina Faso in this weekend’s CHAN qualifier after Les Etalons shocked highly favoured Nigeria U23s in last month’s All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.
Burkina Faso stunned Samson Siasia’s Dream Team VI 3-1 to qualify for the final of the All Africa Games in Brazzaville.
“We are aware of how Burkina Faso shocked our Olympic team at the All Africa Games and so we know we cannot take them lightly,” said Eagles spokesman Toyin Ibitoye.
“We know for instance that they have been training in Morocco and have played a number of test matches and so they will be very prepared against us.”
The home-based Eagles have played a number of test games including a 6-1 spanking of Blessed Academy of Port Harcourt.
Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh will not be on the bench on Saturday after he took ill after the friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium.
His assistants, Jean Francois Losciuto and Salisu Yusuf, will be in charge of the team for the first leg as a result.
Injury has ruled out Enyimba defensive midfielder Razak Aliyu and Paul Onobi from Sunshine Stars.
Warri Wolves striker Gbolahan Salami will lead the Eagles on Saturday and he said the target is victory.
“This will be our first competitive match as a team together and I am looking forward to it. I am confident we will do well and the aim is to win convincingly so that the second leg will be easier,” said Salami, who has scored 14 goals in the Nigeria league this season.
Salami, who featured at last year’s CHAN in South Africa where Nigeria finished third, also dismissed media reports he has been ruled out of the match on account of a groin complaint.
Other players to look out for are Sharks defender Chima Akas, FC Taraba midfielder Usman Mohammed and Abia Warriors central defender Austin Oboroakpo, who have all been capped at full international level by Nigeria.
The winners of this match-up over the two legs will advance to the final tournament in Rwanda in January.
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