National Teams
AFCON 2023: Kenneth Omeruo expects an ‘uneasy’ Nigeria vs Guinea Bissau clash
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria defender, Kenneth Omeruo insists uneasy lies ahead of the final Group A encounter between his side and Guinea Bissau at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Abidjan.
The Super Eagles and Djurtus will face off at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, with a place in the Round of 16 at stake on Monday.
With lots of surprises witnessed at AFCON 2023, Omeruo assures his side are not taking the last group game likely.
“I think it is going to be an interesting game of football,” Omeruo said during the pre-match press conference in Abidjan on Sunday.
“Some people say it is going to be an easy game but there is no easy game in football in this tournament.
“A lot of big teams are really struggling. This showed how improved the African teams are. We are going to approach the game with more seriousness to win.”
One of the players that was part of the team that last won the AFCON in 2013, Omeruo is positive that the team can win the title once again but will take each game as they come.
“I know we have a slogan of let’s do it again but we have teams to play before the final,” he continued.
“If we go there tomorrow thinking that we will beat them, they might surprise us. We have been working hard and analysed the team and know how they play as well as their strengths.
“We are working towards that in training yesterday and will also work on that today. The boys know how important it is and we are going to approach the game with all seriousness to win.
“I believe we have the strength and capacity to win the AFCON but it starts from each game. We have to focus on Guinea Bissau to win that game and then the next one until we get there. I do believe we can win the title.
“There are some things that happen inhouse that I can’t say. The coaches are really strict on concentration because he wants us to be focused all the time. We also had meetings between ourselves.”
A win over Guinea Bissau will ensure that the three-time African champions could finish in second or second position depending on the result of the game between host, Cote D’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea.
