Nigeria coach Samson Siasia has
assured his team have fixed their defensive lapses after they posted a clean
sheet against Algeria at the weekend.
Nigeria
let in four goals in their first two games against Mali and Egypt, before they
posted a more assured display back in defence to hold Algeria to a goalless draw.
Siasia
said: “We have learnt our lessons. Two games in which the first half looked
good and the last half didn’t. We made our corrections and you can see from how
we played in the last game.
“We are
not going back home empty–handed; it’s no retreat, no surrender. We have to get
ourselves ready for tomorrow’s game (semi-final vs Senegal); it’s going to be a
difficult one. It’s going to be 11 players against 11, so we have our chances
to qualify.”
He also
argued that skipper Azubuike Okechukwu’s absence on account of a one-match
suspension will give another player the chance to shine on Wednesday.
“We would
have loved to have Azubuike because he is the captain and a big motivator, and
you have to have a leader on the field. But he’s suspended, so we have to live
with that. There is no need crying over spilt milk,” he said.
“In life,
you always have to make adjustments in several areas. Azubuike’s absence will
give another player the opportunity to prove himself.”
The coach
also said he is using FIFA U-17 World Cup sensation Victor Osimhen sparingly so
that the youngster is not consumed by the occasion.
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