Loss to Nigeria still pains – Leekens News

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Loss to Nigeria still pains – Leekens

By Daily Sports on January 13, 2017

Georges Leekens, head coach of Algeria’s national team, is still pained by his side’s 1-3 loss to Nigeria two months ago in 2018 World Cup qualifying.

A Victor Moses brace plus an expertly-finished effort by Mikel John Obi proved decisive as the Super Eagles beat the Foxes in emphatic fashion at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on November 12, 2016, as the qualification race entered matchday two.

Leekens claims he ignored the conventional style and tactics of African football which put paid to his side’s chances of amassing any points in Uyo.

“African teams usually start games at full throttle, but without testing their opponents.

“Then, as the minutes go by, the intensity drops, which is when you have to step things up and make the difference.

“Against Nigeria, for example, we played well in the second half, but only after we’d let in two goals in the first. If we’d played at the same level for the whole match, we’d have won,” Leekens said to www.fifa.com.

Leekens then went on to discuss the chances of his side at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations which begins in Gabon on January 14.

Algeria will battle for one of two quarterfinal tickets in Group B alongside Tunisia, Senegal and Zimbabwe in the Haut-Ogooué province of Franceville.

Leekens believes he has the squad to ruffle more than a few feathers in Gabon.

“We have a young team and they’ve got potential. My squad is a mix of players who play abroad and others who are based in the Algerian league.

“If they all perform at their usual level and we give them the confidence they need, we can go and get some good results.

“I’m expecting the players to give 200 percent, so that we can be at our best at the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said.

Nigeria’s clash with Algeria in the reverse fixture of 2018 World Cup qualifying will be played in Algiers on November 6, 2017. (supersport.com)

•Photo shows Georges Leekens

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 13, 2017