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U-23 AFCON: Nigeria must fall, Senegal coaches declare

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In from Nifemi Daniel . . .

The coaching crew of the Senegalese U-23 national team has declared that their Nigerian counterparts will have no escape route when both teams clash today in the first semifinal of the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Darkar.

The tournament hosts defeated South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia to finish top of Group A to book their spot in the last four of the competition while Nigeria finished as runners up behind Algeria in Group B.

According to the head coach, Serigne Saliou Dia, “It is going to be a very tough match. It is a semifinal and a qualifier to the Rio Summer Olympics. Nigeria are used to these competitions and are very experienced.”

He added that: “What is important is that we remain true to ourselves. We must rely on our qualities and keep our values,” Dia told the media.

Read also: Siasia, Pinnick back U-23 Eagles to beat Senegal

“We must try to avoid mistakes. We are going to impose our game so we can qualify,” added the tactician, who, however, does not underestimate their opponents.

Similarly, Senegal’s assistant coach Badara Sarr said: “We have made good matches from the start. It’s necessary to raise the level of our play, while reducing the risk of error,” Sarr told galsenfoot.com.

“Nigeria is a great team. Since it is a football match, you have to focus. We ask the players to be alert, focused, calm, and not to put pressure.

Speaking further Sarr said: “It’s a very important game because it opens the qualification to the Olympic Games, a fundamental objective. We have been dynamic since the start of the tournament and now we asked the boys to be calm and not to be inhibited by the challenge. We knock on wood; the mind is looking good.”

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