Nigeria u23 coach Samson Siasia will be back to the stadium where he has fond memories as the Olympic team prepare to take on host Senegal in the semifinal of the Caf U23 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.
Siasia, alongside an exciting cast of Super Eagles led by Stephen Keshi defeated Senegal 2-1 in the opening game of the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations which was ironically hosted by Senegal.
He opened scoring for Nigeria in the game that the Eagles needed a Stephen Keshi late goal to win the game after Jules Bocande had equalised for the home side.
The former FC Nantes coach will once again attempt to defeat the Teranga Lions in their backyard-but this time as a coach looking to head back to the Olympics after leading Nigeria to a second place finish in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.
The Dream Team
Match background:
Senegal have been firing on all cylinders since the championship started notching up maximum points from their three group games.
They beat all their group opponents and placed first to set a date with Nigeria who wobbled through Group B with some lethargic displays to finish second behind Algeria thereby booking a date with hosts Senegal.
Coach Samson Siasia said he has seen some improvements in his team and is happy they didn’t concede against Algeria in the last game which means progress has been made.
Senegal defender Adama Mbengue is optimistic that the hosts have the capability to win the tournament if they continue working hard and push on as they enter the latter stages of the competition.
”We have a good team and we're working hard to win the tournament because Senegal has never won an Africa Cup of Nations title,”he said.
“We were tired because the last two matches were tough for us but we managed to get a good result. The fans were brilliant on the night as they have been all through.
“We need them to be behind us so as to win the tournament for them and the entire country.”he added.
Senegal will have the full complement of their squad for the semifinal game while Nigeria will lose the services of the captain Azubuike Okechukwu due to accumulated cards.
Exciting winger Stanley Dimgba is also ruled out of the game and probably the remainder of the tournament due to injury.
Senegal have not dropped a single point yet
Route to the semifinals:
Senegal
Senegal 3 South Africa 1
Tunisia 0 Senegal 0
Senegal 1 Zambia 0
Nigeria
Mali 2 Nigeria 3
Nigeria 2 Egypt 2
Nigeria 0 Algeria 0
What they said:
“The important thing is to qualify for the semifinals so now that we have achieved that, I am happy.
“We will try to take our chances and see what happens from there.” Samson Siasia, Nigeria coach.
“Our target was to reach the semis and more importantly is to qualify for the Olympic Games. if you want to qualify you have to win the semifinals.”Serigne Saliou Dia, Senegal coach.
Teams
Nigeria:
Goalkeepers:Emmanuel Daniel, Yusuf Mohammed, Emmanuel Iwu
Defenders: Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Chukwuebuka Iroha, Amaefule Chizoba, Zaharadeen Bello
Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu, Stanley Dimgba, Bature Yaro, Seun Olulayo, Ndifreke Effiong, Tiongoli Tonbara, Usman Mohammed
Attackers: Taiwo Awoniyi, Junior Ajayi, Godspower Enefiok, Oghenekaro Etebo, Victor Osimhen, Kufre Ebong
Senegal
Goalkeepers: Mouhamed Mbaye, Pape Abdoulaye Dieng, Pape Seydou Ndiaye
Defenders: Adama Mbengue, Alhassane Sylla, Elhadji Pape Djibril Diaw, Ibrahima Diedhiou, Modou Makhtar Diagne, Moussa Wague
Midfielders: Abdoulaye Ba, Boubacar Cissokho, Nestor Pamipi Mendy, Ousseynou Thioune, Samba Ndiaye, Sidy Sarr
Attackers: Cheikhou Dieng, Ibrahima Sory Keita, Isma?la Sarr, Mouhamadou Habibou Diallo, Moussa Seydi, Sylvain Badji
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