OndoReporter | 2017 AFCON qualifier: No panic over Egypt – Musa

OndoReporter | 2017 AFCON qualifier: No panic over Egypt – Musa



AGAINST the back drop of intense hype being
generated by the two-legged 2017 Afcon
qualifiers between the Super Eagles and
Pharaohs the match has generated a lot of
interest among Nigerian football fans.

The accompanying mind games from both
camps have no doubt, increased the tension in
Nigerians that some fans can’t wait to see the
two African soccer giants clash in Kaduna.

But Nigeria captain, Ahmed Musa has been
quick to douse tension and has declared that
Nigeria do not have any reasons to be afraid
going into two AFCON 2017 qualifiers against
Egypt as the target remains to win the games.
Nigeria will host Egypt on March 25 in Kaduna
with the return leg in Alexandria four days
later in qualifying matches that could well
determine the overall winners of the group.
Egypt are top of the qualifying group with six
points from two matches, two points more
than Nigeria, with only the group winners
guaranteed automatic qualification to Gabon
2017.

The build-up to these matches has been noisy
with both teams bullish of their chances and
CSKA Moscow star forward Ahmed Musa has
now restated his belief Nigeria will triumph
over the seven-time African champions.

“I am calling on Nigerians and football fans to
support us and keep praying for us as we will
make the nation proud with victories over
Egypt,” Musa told AfricanFootball.com
“We are not afraid of Egypt. Why should we?
“We have top quality players who will do
Nigeria and Nigerians proud in both games.
There is no reason to panic or fear Egypt,
instead they should be the ones who should be
afraid of us.”

Meanwhile, chairman of the NFF technical
committee, Chris Green has called for respect
for the Egyptians.

Egypt coach Hector Cuper recently announced
the 25-man squad that is set to face the Super
Green Eagles in the two-legged African
qualifiers on the 25th and 29th of March.
Green has also called Nigeria to turn their
attention to the Pharaohs as a whole not just
one player in the person of Arsenal midfielder
Mohamed Elneny.

“Elneny is just one player in the pack of 11 and
so I don’t think we need to worry about one
player,” Green told Africa’s pioneer sports radio
station Brilla FM.

“We need to worry about [Egypt’s whole] team,
we must respect the Egyptians because they
have a difficult team. But at the same time we
are playing at home, we should be able to go
forward at home,” he concluded.