The home-based Eagles are chasing the record of becoming the first set to qualify for the African Nations Championship
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COTE D'IVOIRE
 Sangare Coulibaly, Goua, Kassi, Ouattara Zahouo, Lakpa, Coulibaly, Mohammed Zougoula, Boua |
NIGERIA  Agbim Okonkwo, Oboabona, Egwuekwe, Kwambe S. Mba, Olufemi, Saka E. Mbah, Gero, Oghene |
Though Keshi has continuously stated that he is preparing the team to withstand whatever kind of barrage will be thrown at them. It is expected that the Eagles will name the same team that won in Kaduna three weeks’ ago excluding injured striker Gambo Mohammed who should be replaced by Etebo Oghene in the starting XI.
The Elephants on the other hand are hurting from the perceived ‘injustice’ at the hands of the referee in the first leg as they had a penalty given against them and then had two players sent off. And their coach, Saraka Norbert believes the Nigerian team will play defensively which will afford the home team the opportunity to attack for all of 90 minutes.
The trick for the Elephants will be to score in the first ten minutes of the encounter to make the crowd more vociferous though on the evidence of the first leg, they will be open to counter attacks from the Eagles as they go all out to cancel the three goals deficit.
The two teams have met 18 times with six victories for Nigeria and seven draws and it is almost a safe bet that Sunday Mba will get on the score sheet for the Eagles.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
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The tournament's defending champions, Tunisia will not be defending their trophy in South Africa
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The tournament was extended to 16 teams in 2011
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Stephen Keshi will hope to become the first coach to qualify the Super Eagles for the CHAN tournament.
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Sunday Mba (pictured) scored two goals in the first leg in Kaduna three weeks ago
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Cote d'Ivoire is ranked 13th in the world by Fifa while Nigeria is ranked in 35th place.
goal.com
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