Super Eagles defender Godfrey Oboabona
has dismissed fears Ivory Coast could pull out a big finish to deny
Nigeria the single ticket to the Africa Nations Championship in South
Africa next year.
The Eagles, who beat the Elephants 4-1
in the first leg CHAN qualifier in Kaduna on July 6, will face the
Ivorians in the second leg in Abidjan on July 27.
Nigeria need to avoid defeat by more
than three goals to qualify for the tournament and Oboabona, who played
a key role in the Kaduna victory, says the Eagles are not worried that
the Elephants could stop Nigeria from playing at the tournament for the
first time.
“With God on our side we are going there
for victory,” the versatile Sunshine Stars player told our
correspondent on the telephone during the week.
The 22-year-old, who has been picked for
next month’s match against South Africa in the Nelson Mandela
Challenge, praised his teammates for the emphatic win in Kaduna,
calling for focus ahead of the Abidjan encounter .
Meanwhile, coach Stephen Keshi has said no antics from the Ivorians will stop his team from finishing the job in Abidjan.
Goal quoted Keshi as saying,
“It’s not just Ivory Coast, it’s an Africa thing. When you play in
Africa it’s very difficult, right from the dressing room they make you
go crazy and on the field of play the fans, the supporters, they drive
you nuts. You just have to keep your cool and focus. If we can do that
and I think they can do it, then we will pull through.
“We have been talking (about the
expected antics and hostilities in Abidjan) because it is going to be a
character game and the mentality of every player is going to be highly
tested there because they will come to intimidate them and make them go
crazy and we just have to remain calm and play our game.
“As far as we can have that inner calm and focus on the game, then we should be good.”

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