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Siasia: Algeria no threat to our AFCON trophy

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Samson Siasia

In from Nifemi Daniel . . .

Nigeria U-23 Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has declared that his team is poised to win the Africa U-23 Championship in Senegal while stressing that their Algeria counterpart is no threat to the team’s ambition.

Speaking to cafonline.com, Siasia said the qualification for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil, has boosted the team’s confidence and maintained that Nigeria will lift the trophy at the expense of Algeria.

“We’re very happy to be in the final. It has been a long journey with some ups and downs but it feels good to be in the final. We know our opponents (Algeria) very well after playing them (at the group phase) and seeing their matches.

“The objective was to qualify for the Olympics which we achieved against Senegal. Now, we’ve set another objective, which is to win because we want to win the tournament for our people back home in Nigeria,” he said.

Read also: U-23 AFCON: Nampiandraza to officiate Nigeria, Algeria fina

The former Super Eagles striker also praised his players for their dedication and resilience but revealed that he is still battling to select his starting eleven for the final.

“The players worked hard to get to Rio de Janeiro because they want to make the country proud. It doesn’t matter whether they have received match bonuses or not, what is important is to play and win for Nigeria.

“Victor Osimhen had a good outing against Senegal which is giving me problems ahead of the final. I think he will play but I cannot confirm if he will start,” he revealed.

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