Sports
CHAN: Eagles seek historic final ticket in Sudan showdown
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will play Sudan in the semifinal of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Wednesday, as they hope to make it through to their first-ever final in the biennial tournament.
The home-based internationals, who finished as second runners-up in 2014 and could not make it out of the group stages in 2016, are on the brink of making history in Morocco.
In a pre-match conference, coach Salisu Yusuf admitted that the team has come a long way to reach the semis, and expressed confidence that they are ready to take a step further.
“It has been a long journey from the qualifiers, and now we’re in the semis,” Yusuf said.
“We are ready to do the job. It is such a great feeling to be in the semis. We are focused and will work hard to reach the final.
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“We have done well in the tournament so far; played four games, score six and conceded two.
“My attackers have done well in this tournament and their goals have brought us thus far. The most important is not how many goals you score, but the goal that push the team on.
“We have respect for Sudan, and for them to holds Morocco (tipped as favourites) to a 0-0 draw, means they are a good side. This means we have to work harder. For any team to reach the semis of a major tournament, it means they have done well.
“All four teams at the semis have the potential to win the trophy, it depends on how you make the best of your advantage,” he stated.
Yusuf also talked about his injured players and the changes his crew have made. He mentioned that Sunday Faleye (goalscorer against Libya) is out of the Sudan clash, and Orji Kalu and Eneji Moses are still being assessed.
The Eagles will battle the Sudanese at the Grande Stade Marrakech today by 8:30p.m Nigeria time.
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