With one point in the bag for Nigeria in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualification match against Tanzania, all eyes will shift to the game the Super Eagles will be playing against Niger at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Tuesday.
New Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh, who got a dose of management at the national level in Tanzania will be hoping his side can show improvements in front of their fans.
The presence of the former Juventus and Ajax star did not have an inspiring effect on the three-time African champions against Tanzania on Saturday.
Nigerians were on the edge of their seats in the game played at the National Stadium, in Dar es Salaam, on Saturday.
Super Eagles’ fans were indebted to the heroics of debutant goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who stood-in for Captain Vincent Enyeama. The Lille shot stopper was excused because of the death of his mother.
Despite that lackluster show, Oliseh was upbeat and is hopeful his team can use the display in Dar es Salaam as a learning process.
“We came here with the objective of earning the three points, but that didn’t happen,” Oliseh said after the goalless draw.
“It was my first match in charge of the team and I have learnt a few things which will definitely help us going forward.”
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The draw with Tanzania was a dent to Nigeria’s hopes of automatic qualification for the AFCON after failing to reach this year’s edition of the tournament, particularly with seven-time champions Egypt providing strong competition in their group.
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A friendly against inferior opposition in front of their home fans should provide Nigeria with the opportunity to build continuity and confidence under Oliseh heading into a busy period of fixtures.
Nigeria take on Burkina Faso in the African Nations Championship over two legs in October prior to a World Cup qualifying tie with Djibouti or Swaziland in November and home and away games with Egypt next March.
But Nigeria’s last meeting with their West African neighbors did not go exactly to plan. They were held to a 0-0 draw in 2012 and a similar result this time around would be cause for concern.
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Niger have played in the AFCON finals twice in their history, doing so in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013, only to be eliminated in the group stages on both occasions.
A meeting with one of the continent’s traditional powers will give Francois Zahoui’s men a strong test of where they stand going into their World Cup qualifying tie, which will see Niger pitted against Somalia.
However, after suffering a 2-0 loss to Burundi on Saturday, Niger’s hopes of keeping Oliseh winless appear slim at best.
Meanwhile, Egypt zoomed to the top of the group with a massive 5-1 over Chad on Sunday.
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– News24
