•Eagles must take their chances, Lawal warns
Joe Apu; Ighodalo Isiramen
Nigeria will be hoping to make her first ever CHAN final as she confronts the Falcons of Sudan in today’s semifinal encounter.
Coach Salisu Yusuf’s men started their Group C assignments with a 0-0 draw against Rwanda, but went on to beat Libya 1-0 and demolished Equatorial Guinea 3-1.
Heading to the Last Eight, they secured a crucial 2-1 win over the brave Palancas Negras of Angola on Sunday. Looking at the Falcons of Jediane, the North Africans have also had a wonderful run in the continental showpiece so far.
They defeated the Syli Nationale of Guinea in Group A, lost to hosts Morocco, but bounced back with a 1-0 win over Mauritania to finish as number two in the group.
In their quarter-final campaign, they met favourites Zambia and they handed the Chipolopolo a 1-0 defeat to book a spot in the Last Four.
Sudan and Nigeria have met 13 times and Yusuf’s men enjoy an advantage of seven wins, four draws and two losses.
However, with a spot in the final up for grabs the encounter could go either way at the Stade de Marrakech at 8:30pm Nigeria time.
Meanwhile, ex-international Garba Lawal has warned that the Eagles must be at their best today to land in the final.
Lawal who spoke on Brila FM said the Eagles must not be wasteful in front of goal. “As you can see, from the first game against Rwanda, we’ve seen tremendous improvement in the team. But I will advise the boys to take Sudan more seriously than they did against Angola. They must go into the match with total seriousness and they must take their chances as they come,” Lawal said.
