Cote d’Iviore, Hard Team To Beat –Bamigboye

Chairman, Nigeria Coaches Association, Godwin Bamigboye,  FCT Chapter, said the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire would be a difficult team to beat at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON).

Bamigboye was speaking on Thursday in Abuja ahead of Sunday’s AFCON quarter-final match between the Super Eagles’ and their Ivorian counterparts in Rustenburg, South Africa.

He told Tidesports source in an interview that though the Super Eagles had a great chance of moving to the next stage at the tournament, they had to be weary of the talented players in the Ivorian team.

“I trust them and I think they will need to up their game against the Elephants, especially after watching their previous matches against Burkina Faso and Zambia, where they lost conentration in the last minutes of the game.

“Taking on Cote d’ Ivoire is a different ball game altogether.

“It must be approached with a different mentality; it’s not the same thing as preparing against Ethiopia and the other teams we played in Group C because there is no second chance for both teams,’’ Bamigboye said.

According to him, Nigerians will be happy with the Eagles if they can eliminate Cote d’ Ivoire from the competition, adding that the Eagles will need to be more prepared to emerge victorious.

He also advised the Eagles to be mindful of the physique of the Ivorian team.