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We will isolate Osimhen, boasts I’Coast coach

By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 16, 2024

Ivory Coast coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, has already identified the Super Eagles weaknesses his team will exploit when they face Nigeria in their second Group A game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, The PUNCH reports.

The Elephants kicked off their campaign on a winning note defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in front of an elated Abidjan crowd at the Ebimpe stadium, thanks to goals from Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso, while Nigeria needed a quick-fire equaliser from Victor Osimhen to spare the Eagles a shock defeat against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game on Sunday.

Osimhen drew the Eagles level two minutes after Iban Salvador’s opener in the 36th minute.

The Eagles face a daunting task against hosts Ivory Coast, who are aiming to book their place in the round of 16 and also extend an unbeaten run of two games against the Elephants.

Gasset’s side currently lead Group A and are favourites to win the encounter, with the Eagles facing injury crisis with Alhassan Yusuf and Kelechi Iheanacho major doubts for the encounter

Speaking ahead of the game, Gasset admitted that the game won’t be a stroll in the park but added that the Elephants would exploit the Eagles lapses in their encounter against Equatorial Guinea.

“We know Nigeria’s strengths and their weaknesses,” Gasset said.

“Their attacking line-up is impressive and their striker (Victor Osimhen) is the best in Africa but when they play they isolate him, so we will play that way to isolate him as well.

“But we will have to improve but having got the opening match pressure off, I’m sure my players will step up.”

The Elephants lead Group A with three points while Equatorial Guniea and Nigeria are joint-second following their stalemate on Sunday.

Guinea-Bissau occupy the fourth spot in the group, having lost their opening game.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 16, 2024