Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has said the priority for Nigeria is to beat Egypt at home on Friday so as to improve their chances of qualifying for next year’s AFCON in Gabon after they missed out on last year’s tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
The Super Eagles are two points behind group leaders Egypt in the qualifying group for Gabon 2017, but a win in Kaduna on Friday will see the three-time African champions leapfrog their closest rivals before a reverse clash in Alexandria four days later.
Chad will host Tanzania in the group’s other match today in Ndjamena.
Chad have lost their first two points, while Tanzania have a point from a draw with Nigeria in Dar es Salam in September.
“Egypt are ahead of us in the qualifiers, we therefore have to win on Friday so as to go above them on the table,” said Mikel, who has been mobbed by eager fans at the team’s trainings in Abuja and Kaduna.
“So, Friday’s match is really the big one and we are playing at home.
“We are ready.”
“We must beat Egypt and go on to qualify for the Nations Cup,” added defender Chibuzor Okonkwo, who has staged a comeback to the team on the return of coach Samson Siasia at the helm.
Kick-off time on Friday has been moved to 5pm, when the weather would be a lot cooler and not affect the home team’s overseas-based pros.
