Cameroon coach Hugo Broos is hopeful his team’s international experiences in 2017 will act as an advantage when the Indomitable Lions square up against Nigeria in Uyo on Friday.
The reigning African champions face Group B leaders Nigeria in a win-or-bust 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier, knowing that any result short of victory may put paid to the Lions’ ambitions to clinch the group’s sole slot to be in Russia next summer.
Broos faced the Nigerian media for the first and perhaps last time before Friday’s game and while he admitted to his team being under pressure ahead of the game, believes the team’s recent activity at the Africa Cup of Nations which they won and the Confederations Cup in Russia could serve as help ahead of the game.
“Maybe we’re a little bit more experienced than the Nigerian team with the AFCON win and the Confederations Cup.
“Even if we didn’t win, it was a great experience for the team and everyone felt and saw that being the champions of Africa and playing against those teams like Chile and Germany instill a difference.”
“It was good for the team that we played such big tournaments within six weeks so that gives us a lot of experience so maybe on that level, we are a little bit more than Nigeria but tomorrow (Friday) there will be more than experience.”
The 65-year old also admitted to the pressure that winning a tournament as underdogs brings to the team as he believes that everything has changed for his team within the last eight months.
“The situation is a little bit different now. Before now, there was a period without pressure, about eight months ago, and we won the AFCON, after that we had only one victory and the rest, defeats.
“If you won something like that, which is the highest an African player can win, it comes with prestige and with pressure. Yes we are under pressure now because we are four points behind and if we don’t win, it means we may crash out. So that’s it.”
Nigeria top group B with 6 points from two matches, four ahead of nearest rivals and Friday’s opponents, Cameroon.
Operation Cameroun must fall in Uyo!!