Afcon 2023: Okocha, Babangida, and Yobo give tips on how Eagles can beat Elephants

Former Super Eagles Captain  Jay-Jay Okocha says the Super Eagles and Elephants clash will be full of fireworks adding however that only team that only the team that is more desirous of victory will survive.

The Eagles and Elephants clash is one of the star matches of the 34th edition of the Nations. Expectedly matches between both countries like that between Ghana and Nigeria have always gone to the wire.

Okocha in an interview with Cafonline bared his mind on the match but stopped short of saying which team would win the much talked about battle billed for Thursday, January 18.

Asked whether he expects a difficult match for the Super Eagles, the former PSG and Bolton wanderers talisman said

“Absolutely! Every match is difficult but when you play the host country, it is even more difficult. But, of course, the beauty of football is that if you want to be champions, you have to win against the best. And as we know, in football, every match is difficult. If you are well prepared, you have a chance of winning your match. But, we Nigerians, we know that it will be a difficult match but also, we believe that we have enough potential to be able to win this match.”

On what he thinks will be the key to winning this all-important match he added

“I think what the key will be is experience, desire, and state of mind. For me, they are professionals, and they know the importance of this match, I think their mindset will be the key. “

The Eagles came from behind to pull a draw against Equatorial Guinea but Okocha saw some positives in the match despite the draw.

“I think we didn’t play bad as many people say. There were a lot of positive things that were seen in the match. The only problem is that we didn’t take our opportunities. We created a lot of chances, which is a positive aspect for me. That’s the sign of a good team. It looks like two points lost because we were favorites, but we know how difficult it is to win a match. This is also a good thing because they now know that they are not perfect and that they need to improve certain things.”

Nigeria expects a lot from its striker and star, Victor Osimhen. As a legend of the Nigerian selection who carried this team for a good period, what would it take for him to meet the expectations placed on him?

“We know that Victor Osimhen is a world-class goalscorer, a very great player. He needs the services of his team and I believe he got them in this first match. It’s not all the time that we see him miss clear opportunities. I think he is eager to correct his mistakes and with him, we have hope and we believe in him because we know he is capable of shining in any competition.”

Another former Nigerian international, Tijani Babangida has stated that is going to approach their second group match against the host country, Cote D’Ivoire like a wounded team.

Babangida noted that except for not converting most of the chances created in the first match played the Super Eagles did not play that badly as has been suggested by most Nigerian football followers.

 

The former Super Eagles winger expressed optimism that the Super Eagles will qualify from that group.

“Our team is now a wounded team, and I can assure you that they would give the Ivorians a real taste of the game. It is not going to be easy I know, but I am very hopeful that this team will qualify.

“I know that playing the host is not going to be easy especially as they won their first game, but the good thing is that we also got a point from our first match,”

TJ as he is fondly called by his admirers predicted that the least points the Super Eagles would get in the group is four points no matter what happened in the match against the Ivorians.

 

“No matter what happens in our next game if we win the last group game we will come out with 4 points, that is if we fail to win the host,”

Former Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, also said  “The coach has to do a bit more work,” the former Center back said. “My experience as an assistant coach taught me a few things. We should work a bit more on set pieces, either defending or attacking.

“We could surprise them and change to a back 3. We have the team to play it. Just ensure that the midfield has enough control.”

 “The players have to show urgency. We have to take the game to them. We can rush them up in the first five minutes. They already have 3 points and If they draw, they’ll see it as a good ​result. Most times, 4 points is enough to qualify.

“So, we have to do it. Rush them but rush them with our heads. We also have to be compact so as not to concede. If they score first, it won’t be easy,” he stated.