Super Eagles striker Samuel says goals will flow against Egypt

Super Eagles striker Aaron Samuel says getting goals would not be a problem for Nigeria when they confront the Pharaohs of Egypt in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Kaduna on March 25.

The big striker, who plays for CSKA Moscow FC in Russia’s elite division alongside Captain Ahmed Musa, has been included in the list of 21 overseas –based professionals called by Coach Samson Siasia for the double header against the Pharaohs.

“Goals will not be a problem when we take to the pitch in Kaduna. We have more and bigger stars that the Egyptians.

“There is nothing to fret about. I have heard what the Egyptians are saying, that we would not be able to score in Kaduna. That is mere wishful thinking on their part. They are trying to play a psychological game. The goals will surely flow from our boots into their net,” he said.

Samuel, who previously played in China, scored two brilliant goals for the Super Eagles in the 2015 Cup of Nations qualifying race – against Sudan in Abuja and against Congo in Pointe Noir.

“Our objective would be to be precise, to convert the chances that we create. We will win and win well.”

Nigeria host Egypt at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Friday, March 25, and both teams clash again four days later at the Borg el-Arab Stadium, Alexandria. 

Balogun: Super Eagles can beat Egypt in Kaduna, Alexandria

Defender Leon Balogun insists the Super Eagles have the ability and capacity to come out tops in the two 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying battles against the Pharaohs in Kaduna and Alexandria.

Both teams face off in Group G of the qualifying race, at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on Day 3 and at the Borg el-Arab Stadium, Alexandria on Day 4. Nigeria play host on March 25 and Egypt are hosts four days later.

“We would be targeting to win both matches,” Balogun, who stars for FSV Mainz of Germany, told NFF website. “If we get the six points, that would ease our path to the Africa Cup finals. Winning will be the principle driving us in both matches.

“Egypt is a big football –playing nation, but Nigeria is also very, very big. There is no complex going into both matches and we have the men to give us victory in Kaduna and away in Egypt.”

Balogun won his first cap for the Eagles in the international friendly against Mexico at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in March 2014, but missed the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil as a result of injury sustained in that game.

Since then, he has been solid for Nigeria in the defence with a high work rate, churning out impressive performances, most recently against Chad at the start of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June 2015, and in friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium in October 2015.

 

Dream Team to depart for Brazil March 20

The Dream Team are expected to depart the shores of the country on Sunday, March 20, for the international friendly against Brazil.

The Nigerian U23 will jet out of the country aboard a South African Airways flight, NFF has confirmed.

The friendly is a tune-up game for both teams ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics men’s football event.

The match, billed for Thursday, March 24, will kick off at 7pm at the stadium of Kleber Andrade in the city of Cariacica, Vitoria, Espirito Santo.

Both teams were involved in one of the most memorable matches in the history of the men’s football tournament of the Olympics, back in 1996, when the Dream Team came back from 3-1 down to eliminate Brazil 4-3 in the semifinals.

Nigeria went on to beat Argentina 3-2 in the final to claim Africa’s first –ever Olympics football gold.