Algeria is looking to pick up maximum points against Nigeria in their Russia 2018 World Cup Group B qualifier in Uyo on Saturday by hitting the Eagles on the counterattack with quick and direct forward passes.
But according to Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu., Algeria’s World Cup dreams are over no thanks to the Eagles who will continue to punish them for ‘killing’ Nigeria’s Mundial ambitions on home soil in 1981
“The Desert Warriors have come to the end of the road. The 1980 Nations Cup winning Eagles will never forgive them for that World Cup qualifier that sent Nigeria packing 35 years ago. It affected those Green Eagles negatively,” he said.
“That 0-2 loss to Les Fennecs in Lagos retired Christian Chukwu permanently from international soccer. Segun Odegbami was stripped of the Captain’s band. Tunde Bamidele lost the opportunity of playing professional soccer abroad, and for the very first time, Aloy Atuegbu, watched from the bench as an Eagle.”
The Super Eagles do not fear Algeria’s counterattacks often spearheaded by Leicester City’s attacking duo Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez, says Nigeria captain Mikel Obi.
Algeria coach Georges Leekens Leekens, 67, who faces selection dilemma ahead of the visit to Nigeria following injury crisis, has reportedly settled for a 4-2-3-1 for the Uyo encounter.
