U23 Afcon Qualifiers: Eta Egbe issues warning to Olympic Eagles ahead of Tanzania tie

Eta Egbe has warned the coaching crew and players of the Nigeria U23 team (Olympic Eagles) ahead of a tricky game against Tanzania on Saturday.

A former member of the coaching staff of the U23 team, Eta Egbe has advised coach Salisu Yusuf to take it easy in a bid to get the desired result against Tanzania next weekend in Ibadan.

Two penalties, one in each half and at opposing sides, guaranteed that Saturday’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria and Tanzania in Dar es Salaam ended in a 1-1 draw.

“Tanzania are coming to fight and the pressure will be on Nigeria to deliver. The team must live up to expectations by winning the match well,” Egbe told Brila FM this week.

“Remember that we were two goals down some years back and came back to score three goals. The Tanzanians will come all out to get a win.

“The moment they scored a goal, the table will be turned. This might put the players in a form of anxiety and they will be in a hurry. With that, they will possibly make a lot of mistakes.”

Meanwhile, the coach of the team, Salisu Yusuf had stated that his side will approach the game with the aim of getting early goals to settle the team’s nerves.

“The team will continue to develop as we go into the competition. I believe the next game will be far better than the last game because we have like three sessions to work on. Our mindset is to win the game.

“We will focus and have a mindset to win and score as early as possible so that we can be rest assured of the game,” the coach posited.

Captain Success Makanjuola netted for Nigeria in the 29th minute, after Qudus Akanni was fouled in the hosts’ vital area, and the 1996 champions thereafter created a number of chances that with a little more precision, would have put the match to bed by half time.

Referee Souleiman Ahmed Djama awarded Tanzania a penalty that was brilliantly converted in the 74th minute for the equaliser.

Nigeria will host the Tanzanians at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Saturday in the return leg.