AFCON 2013: Nigeria vs Zambia Preview: Bruised egos of Eagles and Chipolopolo clash to soothe nerves
The coaches of Nigeria and Zambia know that they cannot afford to lose this encounter or it may be curtains at the 2013 Afcon
Two bruised egos in the form of Nigeria’s
Super Eagles and the defending champions Zambia will clash on Friday at
the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, and the likelihood is that whoever
loses the match may be on the way out of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria had to share the spoils with the Burkina Faso as they
surrendered their 1-0 lead very deep into added time in the second half,
while the Zambians could not get one over a plucky 10-man Ethiopian
team.
Stephen Keshi will be buoyed by the fact that his team almost always
had the game against Burkina Faso under control until Ambrose Efe’s
sending off while Herve Renard will have told his boys that they will
have
to up the ante to get a positive result against Nigeria.
The problem for Zambia is that they do not score many goals, and for Nigeria, chances created have to be taken.
Kenneth Omeruo will start at right back for the Eagles while Renaud
may decide to use two strikers upfront with Collins Mbesuma and Emmanuel
Mayuka the likely candidates.
The Super Eagles were the last team to beat the Chipolopolo in the
Nations Cup, back in the 2010 edition, when Nigeria won on penalties in
the quarter-finals. The Eagles also beat the Zambians in a friendly in
2011 as the Chipolopolo were preparing for the 2012 Nations Cup, which
they eventually won.
So the die is cast and the team which can score two goals in this encounter will likely carry the day.
POSSIBLE LINE UPS:
NIGERIA
 Enyeama Omeruo, Oboabona, Yobo, Elderson
Igiebor, Mikel, Ogude
Musa, Uche, Moses |
ZAMBIA
 Mweene Kasonde, Sunzu, Himoonde, Musonda Lungu, Chansa, Kalaba, Katongo Mbesuma, Mayuka |
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