Okocha urges Nigeria to use Ghana games to correct AFCON mistakes
Austin Okocha has urged the Super of Nigeria to use their games against Ghana to right their Africa Cup of Nations wrongs.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria were most pundits’ favourites after their first group game win against Egypt, they went on to win all group games.
They were the only team at AFCON 2021 who won all group games but they shockingly fell to Tunisia in the Round of 16 to the surprise of all.
Okocha who was a pundit on Super Sports during the tournament said the team led Nigerians on with their performances but let the country down in the end.
The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder expressed his confidence in the team and said with what he saw they can beat Ghana.
He, however, urged the team to use the games against Ghana to correct their mistakes.
“Ghana vs Nigeria match is never an easy one. It’s more about the rivalry, it is a pride match and a bragging right one,” Okocha was quoted by This Day as saying.
“For me, what is most important is to get the ticket. It does not matter how, even if we don’t play beautiful football, what’s important is getting the ticket to the World Cup in Qatar. It’s the result that matters.
“We have a very good team. We just don’t have to judge Super Eagles with the Tunisian match at the last AFCON in Cameroon. We have to review all the matches they played and take the positives and correct the negatives if there were any.
“For me, the signs are there that we have the team to take us to where we want to be in global football.
“I felt bad that the Eagles exited AFCON the way they did after winning all three games [against Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea-Bissau] of the group stage.
“Eagles raised our hopes in expectation of a good run in the tournament, but unfortunately, things did not go the way we expected.
“However, I expect the team to learn from their outing in Cameroon and hopefully use the World Cup playoffs with Ghana to correct those mistakes.”
Nigeria and Ghana will face off for a place in Qatar, the first leg will be played inside the Cape Coast Stadium on Wednesday, 23rd March or Thursday, 24th March.
With the second leg billed for MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Sunday, 27th March.
