CHAN 2016: Nigeria Needs A Point To Reach Quarter-Final

The Super Eagles of need at least a draw against Guinea in the final Group C clash in Rubavu on Tuesday.

Nigeria are top of the group with four points from two matches, but the first round section is still very much wide open with all four teams still in with a mathematical chance of reaching the knockout rounds of the tournament.

Both Tunisia and Guinea are on two points after they drew their first two matches, while Niger are bottom of the standings on a point.


Victory by any margin on Tuesday will guarantee the Eagles top spot in Group C, and a quarter–final date with the second–placed team in Group D, which will be determined when qualified Zambia and Mali face off on Wednesday.

A draw would be enough for qualification, as Nigeria has a two–point margin on second –placed Guinea and Tunisia, but should Tunisia achieve a high–score win over Niger Republic, top spot may not be guaranteed.

Fellow West Africans Guinea have drawn each of their two matches 2-2, against Tunisia and Niger Republic, coming from behind each time.

They pose a big threat because of their mobility and physicality of their strikers led by Alseny ‘Agogo’ Camara.

On Sunday, the Eagles arrived at Tuesday’s match venue after a three –hour road trip from Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.

They are lodged at the Gorilla Hotel, close to the Kivu Beach.

However, leading scorer Chisom Chikatara and midfielder Usman Mohammed have not trained with the rest of the squad after they picked up knocks against Tunisia.

Officials though are confident they will pass late fitness test to feature in this decisive group game.

Enugu Rangers Orji Kalu is expected to start in the heart of the back four along with Austin Obaroakpo after an encouraging display as a replacement for the giant Stephen Eze against Tunisia.

Coach Sunday Oliseh praised the players for their brave performance against the very experienced Tunisian side on Friday and promised that the team will step up their game against a young Guinea team, who were surprisingly stretched by Niger.

“I personally rate Guinea highly because they are a good team. We shall need to be at our best to be able to get a good result so that we top the group,” he offered.