AFCON
I HAVE THE KEY TO BRING DOWN SUPER EAGLES, BOASTS BAFANA COACH, BAXTER
Stuart Baxter, the British coach of South Africa’s Bafana Bafana is the only one that ever handled the team to beat Nigeria. He did it in 2004 in his first tenure as the South African national coach.
He did it again last year in Uyo. In both instances, South Africa scored two goals. Baxter believes he can do it again.
According to Sowetan, a South African publication, Baxter remarked that he holds no fear over facing Nigeria as the countdown to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations showdown at FNB Stadium on Saturday continues.
Speaking at on Monday at the Nelson Mandela Challenge Press Conference in Monte Casino, Johannesburg, he remarked that he expected the Super Eagles to have vengeance on their minds after unexpectedly going down 2-0 to Bafana at home in Uyo in his maiden match in his second stint at the helm as coach in June last year.
‘‘We do have Nigeria first‚ in the small matter of an African Nations Cup qualifier‚” the Briton said ‘‘everybody knows the list of injuries that we have had.
‘‘Everybody knows what I said in the first press conference (a week ago) that despite that (the injuries) I want to speak about the players that we do have because even though we respect Nigeria we do not fear them.
‘‘I think we have still enough talent‚ enough desire and if we can structure a game plan in the next three or four days‚ I think by the time we run out onto the FNB Stadium we would be confident‚ we would not be complacent‚ because Nigeria have just come from a (2018) World Cup (in Russia).
‘‘They are undefeated since we beat them the last time (in the first qualifier in June last year) and they will certainly want to wreak their revenge.
‘‘So‚ we will be ready and I still believe that we have a very good chance of getting the result that we need.”
Baxter revealed that Bafana had injury scares to Holland-based midfielder Thulani Serero and SuperSport United goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
‘‘The ultrasound did not find any tears but it will take him (Williams) I think 24 to 48 hours for it (slight knee strain) to settle‚” he said.
‘‘So he won’t be training with us for the 48 hours and we hope it (the injury) will settle. So that is a little bit of a scare but we will not call in a third keeper and we will keep Ronwen because I think he will be okay.
‘‘The second one is Thulani Serero. We did not receive anything from the club about Thulani but through media reports in Holland.
‘‘They said he had an ankle injury. We knew he was on the plane but we did not know anything about the injury.
‘‘So we held or breaths a little bit.
“When he got off (the plane) he said had a laceration‚ five stitches and a gash. The stitches should come off (on Monday) ‚ easy training (on Monday) and he should be okay for full training (on Tuesday).
‘‘We did after that get a doctor’s report from Holland. So those two are not okay (on Monday) but they should be okay in the next 24 to 48 hours.”
Bafana have a tough schedule in the coming days as after hosting the Nigerians in Johannesburg on Saturday‚ they will then travel to Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium to welcome Paraguay in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Tuesday.
AFCON
Fear of Boniface and Lookman grips Libya’s coach, Al-Hadhiri
Faced with internal challenges that include players’ injuries and boycotts, the Libyan coach, Nasser Al-Hadhiri is believed by local press as facing a ‘near-impossible mission’ in Nigeria.
“The team’s mission against Nigeria seems almost impossible. The Nigerian team has a strong squad, led by names such as Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface, which makes the task more difficult for the Libyan team”, Akhbarlibya24 editorialised.
It further reported that despite the difficult situation, the Libyan coach, Nasser Al-Hadhiri remains somewhat optimistic, as he hopes to achieve a positive result. He remarked: “We realize that winning against Nigeria is difficult, but we seek to return with a draw that will be positive for us and restore our hope in competing for qualification.”
AFCON
Pressure mounts on Libya ahead of Super Eagles clash
According to Libya’s news outlets, there are palpable fears in the Libya national team which faces successive crises and trying to avoid early elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The team which faces the Super Eagles this week has been plagued with players’ absences occasioned by injuries and boycotts.
The coach recently appointed has revealed the names of players refusing to represent the national team.
In a press conference held on Saturday, Coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri remarked that the absence of several players were due to real injuries.
In that class are Ahmed Al-Tarbi, a defender of Ahli Tripoli; Mohammed Al-Tabbal of Al-Nasr club and Ali Youssef who also suffered the injury while playing with Tunisia’s Club Africaine.
AFCON
Libya’s new coach, Al-Hadhir faces difficult time ahead of Super Eagles match
If the Libyan national team sticks to plans, the players are expected to have arrived in Nigeria ahead of their Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel in Uyo.
With most players drawn from the domestic league, the national team had daily training sessions in Tripoli under coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri and his assistants Akram Al-Hammami and Abu Bakr Al-Hark.
However, according to media sources in Libya, the team faces injury worries even though the absence of Victor Osimhen in the Nigerian squad is being celebrated.
Even though it did not mention the injured Libyan players, Libya Al-Ahrar Channel reports that replacements were found in Al-Tahadi FC defender, Mohammed Khalil and Al-Nasr midfielder, Abdullah Abdul Rahim as well as Al-Akhdar winger, Faraj Ghaidhan. They take the places of the absent regular players.
-
International Football1 week ago
Why FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o
-
AFCON3 days ago
Eguavoen unfolds Super Eagles’ squad for back-to-back duel with Libya
-
Uncategorized21 hours ago
Players boycott Libyan national team
-
Uncategorized17 hours ago
Fastest World Cup final scorer is dead!
-
International Football4 days ago
Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad
-
AFCON3 days ago
Libyans jubilate over Osimhen’s injury
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
There are paedophiles among Nigerian coaches, former Super Eagles player alleges
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
Half-time reflection of Gusau’s tenure at Nigeria Football Federation