Nigeria midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has stated that the team is fully prepared to handle the pressure of their opening knockout round match against Mozambique.
The Super Eagles qualified for the round of 16 at the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco, after finishing top of Group C with a 100% record.
They began their quest for a fourth continental title with a 2-1 win over Tanzania and recorded another impressive 3-2 win over Tunisia in their second match.
The three-time champions completed group action with a commanding 3-1 win over Uganda last Tuesday, joining Algeria as the only two countries with a flawless record so far.
Their reward is a clash against Mozambique, who finished third in Group F having recorded one win and two defeats from a difficult group.
“I think everyone is looking forward to playing in the knockout stage. It’s a moment that has pressure but we are ready for this and we are going to be working towards this match in this upcoming days, this boys would be ready”, Dele-Bashiru stated.
The Lazio midfielder started his first game at the tournament in a very different lineup against Uganda and rewarded the decision with a superb assist for Nigeria’s opener in the win.
The 24-year-old also reacted to the goal contribution, expressing delight at his teammates performance in the resounding victory.
“The team played very well (against Uganda) so it was easy for me to make that assist. I was a good position and Bruno (Onyemaechi) played a very good pass for me and from there and you know we have killer strikers in the box so they have good movement so it was easy for me to find one of them”, he added.
“With the way we played against Uganda it made it easier for individual players to provide assist.”
Nigeria and Mozambique face-off at the Fez Stadium in their round of 16 clash next Monday, with the winner advancing to face either Algeria or DR Congo in the quarterfinals.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
