CHAN 2018: Super Eagles Showed Good Character- Coach Yusuf

Coach Salisu Yusuf showered praise on the home-based Super Eagles as they eased into the last eight of the 5th African Nations Championship in Morocco.

Nigeria came from a goal down to defeat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in Agadir on Tuesday night.

Goals from Anthony Okpotu, Dayo Ojo and a penalty goal from substitute Rabiu Ali cancelled out an early opener from Equatorial Ginuea’s Nsi Eyama to see the Eagles finish as Group C winners on seven points.

“We wanted to finish first and we are happy we did,” Yusuf began during his post-match interview.

“The team showed great character. We found ourselves in almost the same scenario during the last edition of the tournament in Rwanda where we had four points going into the final game and we lost and we were out.

“I had to make reference to that game to spur my team on. Anything could have happened. My team gave them so much room to operate during the game. It’s a lesson for us and we remain focused on the next game.

“We were unlucky to have conceded, but I was glad at the way we responded. Our answer was positive, almost always positive. For sure, the second half was good, but we still need to polish our passes more to be accurate. These players show me every day great commitment, great will, desire to fight.”

In the group’s other game played on Tuesday, Libya scored three minutes into stoppage time to edge Rwanda 1-0 and qualified to the quarterfinals, finishing second with six points.

Winner of Group D will face Libya while, Eagles will meet the runners-up in Group D in the quarter-finals on Sunday, 28 January.

The first round of quarter-final fixtures are as follows: Hosts Morocco will face Namibia on Sunday, whiles Sudan and Zambia will engage in the other fixture.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday promised to reward each member of the home-based Super Eagles with $20,000 if they win the CHAN tournament.