John Mikel Obi is optimistic about Nigeria’s chances of producing a positive performance against Algeria in Saturday’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier in Uyo.
The Super Eagles face the Fennec Foxes in the stand out fixture of match day two in Group B at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo and the Chelsea man believes a win for the West Africans could be on the cards.
After playing the part in the Eagles’ 2-1 win over Zambia on match day one, Mikel insists that preparations and the attitude of the players must not be altered if success is to be replicated in Uyo on Saturday.
“The game against Algeria is important and it is the first game at home in the qualifiers.
“We have to do the same, we cannot change anything. We must prepare the same way and give everything in training.
“We have to ensure that we dominate the game. We like to have the ball and have a lot of players who always want the ball at their feet.
“We must work together as a team to defend and try to recover the ball as quickly as possible as soon as we lose it and at the same time, we also try to play our game.
“It will be a tough game but we are playing at home and must use that to our advantage by putting them under pressure and winning the game,” Mikel told the official Super Eagles You Tube channel.
The Super Eagles have won the two games (against Tanzania and Zambia) played under new coach, Gernot Rohr and Mikel says the reasons for these early successes are not farfetched.
He praised Rohr’s methods especially his keenness to ‘pay attention to detail’ before tackling opposition sides.
The Super Eagles captain added that it is a factor which could work against the Algerians on Saturday.
“They (Algeria) are a very good side but if we play with the unity and discipline that we have in this team currently as well as paying attention to detail, I am sure we will win.
“We never had that (quality of paying attention to detail) in the past but with this new coach (Rohr), we have it.
“Before every game, every member of the team knows specifically what he has to do on the pitch.
“As long as we do these things, I am sure we have a very good chance of beating Algeria on Saturday,” he said.
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