Sports
Senegal Under Pressure To Perform: 2012 Africa Nations Cup
Senegal faces co-host Equitorial Guinea at Estdio de Bata today desperately seeking their first three points to keep their 2012 Africa Nations Cup dreams alive.
A draw or defeat will almost certainly see Senegal make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The Teranga Lions arrived at the tournament last Thursday as a hot favourite and were expected to sweep away the competition in Group A.
But that was not to be after Zambia shocked them with a 2-1 win during both sides opening Group A game at the weekend.
“The result was a shocker, no more silly mistakes, we have to win our next two games”, Senegal Coach Amara Traore said
The pressure is also on Senegal strikers Mousa Sow, Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba, w ho have been on fire at their respective European clubs, to deliver.
Meanwhile, since the loss, the Senegal camp has kept a very low profile to regroup and prepare for an even more unpredictable adversary. Their opponents and co-host Equitorial Guinea are looking good after their 1-0 victory over Libya in Bata that capped a spectacular tournament opening ceremony for the Africa Cup finals first timers.
Gilson Paulo’s side did not disappoint and another shock win this time against Senegal would be good enough to keep their dreams alive for a historic quarterfinals appearance.
However, Paulo must try and contain the exuberance of winger Iban Iyanaga who troubled Libya’s backline throughout their first game.
Senegal will still have to watch out for him though and also know the danger Equatorial Guinea poses in the much experienced ex-Real Madrid striker, Javier Balboa and captain and midfielder Montalaban Edjogo-Owono.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.