Nigeria’s U-23 national team are set to face the hosts of the ongoing CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal in a semi-final fixture on Wednesday, December 9, 2015.
The coach of the Nigerian team, Samson Siasia has warned that it will be a herculean task to play the Senegalese side in front of their home fans.
“I would have preferred to play Senegal in the final but I have to do at the semis. It will be a great match because they will have the public behind them and we have to play and win.”
He wants his boys to draw inspiration from the goal he scored against Senegal in front of their home fans during his playing days.
“At the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992, I scored here (Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium), and this is why most Senegalese remember me. I will be around my players to repeat it next Wednesday”
A victory for either of the teams will ensure qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Siasia also took time to congratulate his boys for the semi-final qualification despite recording only one victory in the group stage. Nigeria’s first clean sheet of the competition only came in their last match against Algeria which ended in a goalless draw.
“I congratulate my team for not conceding and qualifying for the semi-finals. The most important was to qualify and we have achieved it. We wish we could garner the three points but I’m happy with qualifying and getting closer to Rio de Janeiro.”
The top three countries in the ongoing tournament will represent Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games .
