15th January, 2014
Coach of Mozambique, Joao Chissano, has boasted that his Mambas will shock Super Eagles of Nigeria when both sides clash in the second Group A match at the ongoing African Nations Championship, CHAN, in Cape Town, South Africa Wednesday evening.
Both Eagles and the Mambas are going for broke this evening after they lost their opening matches. Chissano told MTNFootball.com: “The Nigeria team is not a strong side. We are both under pressure, but I have told my boys to just enjoy themselves because they are playing against a big side and when they play freely, it is possible to beat Nigeria.”
After the 1-2 defeat to Mali on Saturday, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is determined to make amends to his starting team against Mozambique. Keshi will replace Sunshine Stars midfielder Ikenna Paul and Benjamin Francis of Heartland, who are both ruled out of the match.
Francis failed to recover in time from the knock he suffered in the game against Mali, while the muscle strain suffered by Paul in the Eagles training on Monday knocked him out of the game against Mozambique. 3SC striker Gbolahan Salami is expected to lead the Eagles attack with support from Ejike Uzoenyi and Ifeanyi Ede.
Enyimba’s Bright Esieme will be in line to make his debut for the Super Eagles following the injury to Benjamin Francis, while Kano Pillars Shehu Abdullahi comes in for Paul in midfield. Another player who could start will be Joshua Obaje.
The Eagles on Tuesday practiced shooting from range and attacking moves to sharpen their finishing in front of goal.
Meanwhile CAF Instructor, Adegboye Onigbinde has cautioned the home-based Eagles not to underrate their opponents, warning that they should approach the game with all seriousness.