Tunisia will stop Eagles - Hatem Missaoui

Head coach of Tunisia, Hatem Missaoui, has said his team are ready to stop Nigeria in their second group game in the ongoing African Nations Championship on Friday.

The Carthage Eagles could only play out a draw in their first match against Guinea on Monday, while the Super Eagles comprehensively beat Niger Republic 4-1 in their opener.

“We are not looking forward to defending against a player in the Nigeria team; we have our tactics to stop the Super Eagles from scoring goals,” Missaoui said

He added that his team was looking to qualify and added that his side also boasted a lethal striker in Ahmed Akaichi.

“What we are targeting is qualification to the next round of the competition and not just a victory against the Super Eagles.

“Nigeria have a good striker in Chisom Chikatara but we also have our own top scorer, Ahmed Akaichi, who scored the two goals against Guinea. He can get goals against the Super Eagles too.”

He said: “The Nigeria side is a very good team, we know how big they are and we are very ready to play them. We hope Friday match goes well for us.

“We are not just targeting the win against Nigeria, but qualification to the next stage, if we get the victory that will be fantastic for us.”

The match will kick off at 1pm Nigerian time. 

CHAN 2016: Nigeria thrash Niger Republic in group opener

Chisom Chikatara scored a hattrick after coming on from the bench

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles got off to a winning start at the African Nations Championship with a convincing 4-1 win against Niger Republic.

The first half offered little promise as both sides went in level at the break with none of the teams getting the opener. But whatever coach Sunday Oliseh said at half time surely worked as the Eagles came out gun blazing. It took the Nigerian team just 30 seconds after the interval through Osas Okoro after he was set up by Tunde Adeniji.

Sunday Oliseh then looked to his bench for inspiration and brought on Abia Warriors Chisom Chikatara for Tunde Adniji. Chikatara doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the 74th minute when he rifled home into the top corner.

Niger Republic reduced the deficit through Zakary Adebayor in the 80th minute but substitute Chisom Chikatara restored Nigeria’s two goal lead immediately. Chikatara then completed his hattrick late in the game to give the Nigerians an emphatic victory and an impressive start to the tournament.

Nigeria now top group C with three points.

Oliseh names 23 Eagles for African Nations Championship

Sunday Oliseh, Head Coach of the Super Eagles

The Nigerian Football Federation on Saturday in Abuja said Head Coach Sunday Oliseh has named his squad for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.

In a statement issued by Ademola Olajire, Assistant Director (Communications), the Federation announced that the final list of 23 players had been released by the coach. He added that the Eagles B team along with the technical and backroom staff departed for South Africa on Saturday afternoon where they will take part in a 10-day training camp. They will also play two friendly games against Angola and Cote d’Ivoire on January 6 and 11 respectively.

The Federation also said that Oliseh had arrived in South Africa ahead of the delegation. The championship which holds from January 16 to February 7 sees the Eagles in Group C alongside 2011 winners Tunisia, Niger Republic and Guinea. The group games will be played in Kigali.

The full list:

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars), Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba International FC), Okiemute Odah (Warri Wolves).

Defenders: Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors), Kalu Okogbue (Rangers International), Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars), Mathew Etim (Rangers International), Chima Akas (Sharks FC), Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars),  Christopher Maichibi (Giwa FC), Samson Gbadebo (Lobi Stars)

Midfielders: Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors), Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars), Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba), Yaro Bature (Nasarawa United), Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Warri Wolves), Ibrahim Salau (Shooting Stars)

Forwards: Osas Okoro (Rangers International), Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba International FC), Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars), Bright Onyedikachi (FC Ifeanyi Ubah), Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors), Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars).