Both teams clashed at the men’s football event of the 11th All-Africa Games in Brazzaville in September, with Nigeria scoring a last-minute goal to tie the match 1-1. Twice Dream Team capitulated to Mali and Egypt after leading with 3-0 and 2-0 before the break.
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Kano Pillars defensive midfielder Godspower Anefiok is most likely to start for Nigeria in place of suspended skipper Azubuike Okechukwu for Wednesday’s U23 AFCON semi-final against hosts Senegal.
Meanwhile, the 48-year-old tactician (Siasia) has encouraged his players to bring back the memory of 1992, when he scored against the Senegalese at the 1992 AFCON. “Azubuike’s absence will give another player the opportunity to prove himself”, observed Siasia in his preview of today’s game.
“This game was supposed to be the final”.
“Our captain (Azubuike Okechukwu) is out, but he is just one person”, Siasia told Caf website. We have to get ourselves ready for the game; it’s going to be a hard one.
The first half was a tight encounter as chances were hard to come by.
Siasia, who said he is not anxious about the absence of three of his key players from the match, insisted that having reached this level of the competition, no team will stop his Dream Team from picking a ticket for the Olympics.
“In life, you always have to make adjustments in several areas”. He has made big contributions to our game and we will miss him.
Siasia added that for now, he is using Federation Internationale de Football Association U-17 World Cup sensation Victor Osimhen sparingly, so that the boy doesn’t get consumed by the occasion.
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That match against the Junior Chipolopolo also took place at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, so the Nigerians have some idea of what to expect from the hosts, though the first semi-final game, conditions will likely be tougher for a team that has so far played an intense pressing game.
