Hector Cuper talks about Nigeria’s Game

Egypt’s national team coach Hector Cuper believes that Nigeria have more choices in their squad ahead of the two sides’ games in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, but he is ready to secure a place in the tournament’s finals, Pharaohs assistant coach Osama Nabih announced Sunday.

The winners of three successive Africa Cup of Nations, in 2006, 2008 and 2010, Egypt will face Nigeria 25 March in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before playing the follow-up match four days later in Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria.

Nabih revealed that there are three difficulties that worry Cuper ahead of the two games. “The first difficulty is Nigeria is a big name in the African continent, despite failing to reach the last edition of the Africa Cup,” Nabih told a radio programme Sunday.

“Nigeria is coached by Samson Siasia who reached the Olympic Games by placing first with the U-23 team,” he added.

“Moreover, Nigeria have 22-foreign based players alongside well prepared ones in the domestic Nigerian league. So Siasia possess all the tool that lead to success,” the Pharaohs assistant coach said.

“Despite the difficulty of the Nigeria game, we are working to improve our chance of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in the coming Nigeria game,” Nabih said.

Egypt is leading Group G with six points, two ahead of second-placed Nigeria. Only the group winners are guaranteed automatic qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nation