National Teams
AFCON 2023: Equatorial Guinea’s Jesus Lazaro Awono eyes Nigeria scalp
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Equatorial Guinea captain Jesus Lazaro Awono is taunting the downfall of their Nigeria counterparts when they both trade tackles in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Abidjan on Sunday.
Cote d’Ivoire’s 2-0 win against Guinea Bissau on Saturday’s opening encounter has given the Super Eagles and Equatorial Guinea the chance to win their first game which will brighten their chances of making it to the Round of 16.
The Alaves of Spain shot-stopper is confident in his team’s strength ahead of the showdown with the West Africans.
“Personally no but I have a goalkeeper coach that coached the Nigerian goalkeeper and he always told me that he is a great goalkeeper and also playing in a great league,” Awono told journalists during his pre-match press conference.
“I think we have to search the problems in the Nigerian team. We have to make the difference with the ball. If we get the ball from them, I think we can damage them a lot. I think we can figure it out.
“Personally, I think Nigeria goalkeepers are very good and strong keepers.”
The Central African side’s best outing at the AFCON was a third-place finish.
At the last edition of the tournament, the team beat former holders, Algeria causing one of the upsets of the competition.
“The difference between the AFCON in 2021 and this one is that we are no longer an unknown team. People know that we are here to do things, ” he continued.
” We beat Algeria that were the champions which was a great job and for this AFCON, teams know us more. We have to prepare for it.”
