CHAN 2016: Nigeria play Niger today
Francois Zahoui might have built a formidable and physically defensive unit for this tournament but Oliseh’s boys need nothing less than a victory to show supremacy.
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Nigeria face Niger Republic in a Group C fixture at the 2016 African Nations Championship at the Stade Régional Nyamirambo, Kigali today.
Niger upstaged Togo in the qualifying series to confirm their place in the championship – their second in the history of the competition.
The Menas made their debut appearance in 2011 but were knocked out in the quarter finals round by host Sudan on penalties.
Francois Zahoui’s side go into Group C as underdogs, a group which has previous champions Tunisia but if they are able to keep things tight at the defence and get the ball into the penalty area through the flanks, they are capable of stunning doubters.
Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso in the qualification round after a 2-0 home win, to make it their second appearance in a row.
The Super Eagles boast of good preparation as they embarked on a 14-day training tour in South Africa where they were undefeated in three friendly games they played.
Anything short of qualification to the next round will be tagged a disaster for Nigeria with the talented players the squad boasts of.
If there is any man to trouble the Super Eagles in Kigali, it will certainly be Halidou Garba, who leads the Menas frontline. The 32-year old scored the Menas only goal in a friendly game against Ethiopia in their build up to this tournament.
