Monday, December 4, 2023

AFCON: Fans praise Super Eagles’ performance against Egypt

“The attackers didn’t play as a team, especially in the second half. Everyone wanted to make a mark for himself by putting their name on the scoresheet.”

• January 12, 2022
Mo Salah and Kelechi Iheanacho trade tackles in AFCON
Mo Salah and Kelechi Iheanacho trade tackles in AFCON

Football fans have expressed satisfaction with the Super Eagles’ performance against Egypt at the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

The Super Eagles beat the Pharaohs 1-0 in their opening Group D match at the Roumde Adjia stadium in Garoua.

The majority of the fans who reside in Lugbe and other settlements along the Airport Road in Abuja said Kelechi Iheanacho’s 30th-minute goal gave them a huge relief.

Afolabi Olanrewaju, a football analyst, stated that the outing was a good display against Egypt, who are seven-time winners of the competition.

”This is just the beginning, but we missed a lot of goalscoring chances,” he said.

Olanrewaju pointed out that team head coach Augustine Eguavoen still needed to work more on the finishing of the attackers.

“We had a lot of chances which were not converted to goal. We could have beaten Egypt by a wider goal margin if those chances were not wasted,” he noted. “In the second half, the team looked tired and were losing concentration which almost caused them a goal from the opponents.”

The fan added, “In their next match, they should convert most of the chances created to goal so as not to mount pressure on the team. Also, the defenders should not be losing concentration during the match. They should be at alert all through the game.”

The Nigerian fan urged the Super Eagles not to “look down on Sudan in their next game because there are no minnows in football again.”

Another football enthusiast, Festus Ojo, said the team was well-balanced and well-positioned to succeed.

“The team only need to improve more on converting goalscoring chances. But I am impressed with the team’s overall performance,” he said.

However, Mohammed Abubakar, a welder, said he was not satisfied with the performance of the Super Eagles against Egypt.

He noted that the Eagles wasted a lot of goalscoring chances and the players were selfish.

“The attackers didn’t play as a team, especially in the second half. Everyone wanted to make a mark for himself by putting their name on the scoresheet,” Abubakar stressed. “Now we (the Eagles) have to give everything on Saturday in the match against Sudan and show great desire. We have to play the way we played in the first half today (Tuesday).”

Chinedu Obi, a spare parts dealer, said he was confident the Super Eagles would continue to excel, urging Nigerians to have more faith in them.

“Once we win our next match, against Sudan, and which I believe we will, then we are in the round of 16,” he said.

The Eagles will return to action on Saturday against Sudan, while Egypt will lock horns with Guinea Bissau the same day.

Nigeria are in Group D with Egypt, Guinea Bissau and Sudan.

(NAN)

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