2014 CHAN QUARTER FINALS FIXTURES: Super Eagles Increasing Momentum May Raise their Game Even Higher

Quarter Final Fixtures

·         Saturday 25 Jan – Morocco Vs Nigeria    4pm Nigeria Time       Free Stadium     Mangung     

·         Saturday 25 Jan – Mali Vs Zimbabwe      6.30pm  ‘’                    Cape Town Stadium

·         Sunday 26 Jan – Gabon Vs Libya               4pm       ‘’                     Peter Stadium Polokwane

·         Sunday 26 Jan – Ghana Vs DR Congo       6. 30 pm   ‘’                 Free Stadium Mangung

Super Eagles of Nigeria keep improving in every game at the on going African Nations Championship (CHAN). After the first match scare, where the Nigerian home based National team was beaten by Mali 1 goal to 2, the CHAN debutant seem to have overcome the initial stage fright and is firing with all cylinders now.

Nigeria 3 – 1 emphatic defeat of Bafana-Bafana of South Africa after it first defeated Mozambique 4 – 2, may have cut the attention of football pundits. Now many of them are saying the Super Eagles is Favorite to win this edition of the championship.

Super Eagles will now play with the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the quarter finals. The match billed for Saturday, January 25 at Free Stadium Mangung will see both debutantes lock horns for a place in the Semi finals.

The Atlas Lions were on the verge of being knocked out, having only 2 points in their draw with Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe in their first two games. But the north African side rose up to defeat Uganda 3 – 1 in their last group game. So Morocco qualified as top in Group B, similar to that of Nigeria which became second in Group A.

The game between these two countries is expected to be explosive as both teams dream to create new record by winning CHAN title on their debut.

Morocco normally play the fast pace style like most north African teams, but may find it difficult to match the unusual increasing momentum of this Nigerian side in this Championship.

Hassan Benabicha’s side will be hoping to re-enact the quick breaks of Abdesamad Rafik, Lajour Mouhssine and Abdekhor El Quadi, that got them 3 goals against the Cranes of Uganda. But the Nigerians are ready to even raise their game higher and beyond any teams wishful thinking of winning the championship.

 The CAF – African Coach of the Year award winner, Stephen Keshi, seem to understand much about the north African style of Play and may decide to increase the momentum of his entire team for the remaining games. He may try to curtail the fast pace of the Moroccan side by building a block with more players around the midfield to the defense line; and intermittently use long passes to connect highly mobile Agbolan Salami and Rabiu Ali up front as well as utilize the quick dashing runs of Ejike Uzoenyi to counter attack the Atlas Lions