The Complexe Sportif de Fes comes alive for the last time in this AFCON tournament on Monday night for a David and Goliath battle between Nigeria and Mozambique. Does this David stand a chance though?
The Super Eagles have emerged group leaders with maximum points from their group games – one of just two teams to achieve that in this tournament – and now, they face the Mambas who progressed with a record of one win and a loss.
Head coach Eric Chelle has drilled his wards for six days of full focus and undiluted preparation for this game, insisting that his side will not underestimate what Chiquinho Conde and his Mambas can do in a random knockout fixture.
Fes has been a happy home for the Super Eagles with a lot of locals drumming support for the three times champions every match day, they want a happy ending with the Eagles.
A RESTED EAGLE, A DANGEROUS EAGLE
The Super Eagles have rested for five days, since they last played a game here. In actual fact, securing top of the table spot before their final group games meant that certain key players have rested from competitive action for more than a week.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielder Alex Iwobi and attacking pearl Ademola Lookman were all left out of the win over Uganda which means they have had nine full days to recover and refresh ahead of the knockout phase.
What that portends is a dangerous omen for Mozambique who are at this stage of the competition for the first time in their history, but face a side they would not have hoped for, having never beaten Nigeria previously.
KEY BATTLES
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There are three key battles that could shape the outcome of Monday’s game between Nigeria and Mozambique as highlighted in our Video Preview below.
The most fascinating one on paper has to be that between Nigeria’s dreaded centre forward Victor Osimhen and Mozambique defender Reinildo Mandava. The duo are experienced in battles of this magnitude and this should serve a storyline on its own.
The battle that follows this in hierarchy is that between Geny Catamo and Nigeria’s left back Bruno Onyemaechi. Catamo has been one of the revelations of the tournament and has been influential for the Mambas. He comes up against Onyemaechi who has wrestled the left back spot from Zaidu Sanusi and is aware of the threat the Sporting Lisbon star portends.
The third key battle looks like a mismatch on paper but we have learnt never to underestimate anyone in major competitions. Ademola Lookman, at the apex of Nigeria’s diamond go toe-to-toe with Manuel Kambala, the defensive midfielder that adds grit to the Mambas’ play.
BREAKING THE MAXIMUM POINTS JINX
Nigeria have won the AFCON three times but none of them came when they emerged with maximum points from the group stage. The three previous times (1992, 2006, 2021) the Eagles emerged with maximum points ended in heartbreaks with the 2021 edition still fresh in memory.
There seem to be a consensual resolution in the current group that they are aiming to etch their names in the annals of history as winners of Nigeria’s fourth continental crown. That could be the starting point for a jinx-breaking venture.
The journey to being kings continues step by step tonight.
MATCH DETAILS
Match: Nigeria vs Mozambique
Venue: Fes Sports Complex, Fes
Time: 8:00pm (local and WAT)
Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon)
BETTING TIP:
Nigeria were top scorers in the group stage of the competition and they have plenty of goals in them. They have also given opponents pieces of the cake, so it is not too much to expect both teams to score and a Nigerian win – a scenario many fans and analysts are already discussing on platforms like betfm Nigeria ahead of kickoff.
Prediction: Nigeria 3-1 Mozambique
