ALEXANDRIA – Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo says the team have learnt lessons from their shock 2-0 loss to minnows and Africa Cup of Nations debutants, Madagascar and would approach their Round of 16 tie against perennial rivals Cameroon with “red eyes”.
Nigeria’s loss to the tiny island nation last Sunday cost the Super Eagles the chance to win Group B meaning they must now play Group F runners-up Cameroon on Saturday at the Alexandria Stadium for a place in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFCON currently ongoing in Egypt.
Ighalo came off the bench to score the winner in Nigeria’s tournament opener against Burundi but was effectively shackled by the Malagasy defence as the Super Eagles came up short.
And the Shanghai Shenhua striker who has scored twice in three meetings against Cameroon said the team would give no room against Cameroon for the complacency which was a factor in that loss against Madagascar.
“[The] focus is to work hard because the game the other day took everyone by surprise because we were a bit relaxed because we’d gone through,” Ighalo told busybuddiesng.com about the shock loss to Madagascar.
“But now this is when the work starts because when you lose now, you’re going out. We have been working so, yesterday, today and tomorrow the work continues we know it’s a different ball game now so, are going to see everybody with red eyes on that day of the game,” he added.
