Super Eagles forwards Paul Onuachu and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have expressed confidence ahead of Nigeria’s crucial Group C clash with Tunisia on Saturday, with both players emphasising the team’s motivation to secure victory in Fès, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria and Tunisia meet at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in a top-of-the-table encounter, with both sides level on three points following opening-day victories.
Speaking ahead of the match, Trabzonspor striker Onuachu, who has been in scintillating form this season as joint top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with 11 goals, believes the Super Eagles have the quality to take their campaign to the next level.
“Nigeria is a big country, of course, Tunisia is also a football nation, but we have good players and a good squad to really take it to the next level,” Onuachu said.
“I think there are lots of strong teams. Coming here, we have it in the back of our mind that we are going to win the AFCON, but we have to take one game as it comes.”
The 31-year-old former Genk striker came off the bench in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Tanzania and will be hoping to play a more prominent role against the Carthage Eagles.
Lazio midfielder Dele-Bashiru, who also featured as a substitute in the opener, stressed that simply being at the Africa Cup of Nations provides enough motivation for the squad.
“I think just being in the AFCON is enough motivation for us to go and try and get the victory tomorrow,” Dele-Bashiru told reporters.
“Of course, it’s an important match for us if we want to finish top of the group, and so we will do everything we can to get the job done.”
A win for either Nigeria or Tunisia on Saturday will guarantee automatic qualification to the knockout stages of the tournament, while also securing top spot in Group C heading into the final round of fixtures.
The match kicks off at 9pm Nigerian time.
Super Eagles forwards Paul Onuachu and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have expressed confidence ahead of Nigeria’s crucial Group C clash with Tunisia on Saturday, with both players emphasising the team’s motivation to secure victory in Fès, PUNCH Sports Extra reports
Nigeria and Tunisia meet at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in a top-of-the-table encounter, with both sides level on three points following opening-day victories.
Speaking ahead of the match, Trabzonspor striker Onuachu, who has been in scintillating form this season as joint top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with 11 goals, believes the Super Eagles have the quality to take their campaign to the next level.
“Nigeria is a big country, of course, Tunisia is also a football nation but we have good players and a good squad to really take it to the next level,” Onuachu said.
“I think there are lots of strong teams. Coming here, we have it in the back of our mind that we are going to win the AFCON but we have to take one game as it comes.”
The 31-year-old former Genk striker came off the bench in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Tanzania and will be hoping to play a more prominent role against the Carthage Eagles.
Lazio midfielder Dele-Bashiru, who also featured as a substitute in the opener, stressed that simply being at the Africa Cup of Nations provides enough motivation for the squad.
“I think just being in the AFCON is enough motivation for us to go and try and get the victory tomorrow,” Dele-Bashiru told reporters.
“Of course, it’s an important match for us if we want to finish top of the group and so we will do everything we can to get the job done.”
A win for either Nigeria or Tunisia on Saturday will guarantee automatic qualification to the knockout stages of the tournament, while also securing top spot in Group C heading into the final round of fixtures.
The match kicks off at 9pm Nigerian time.
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