Mikel: ‘Giddy Up, Eagles, Fight Like Never Before!’

…Eagles’ Delegation Off To Alexandria Today

Skipper of the Super Eagles, John Mikel Obi, has charged his team mates to pull no punches when they tackle the Pharaohs of Egypt in Alexandria on Tuesday.

Both countries clash for the second time in four days as the qualification series for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations reaches fever pitch. Friday’s first date at the Ahmady Bello Stadium, Kaduna, ended in a 1-1 stalemate, with the Egyptians earning the equaliser against the spirit of fair play, in added time.

However, the Chelsea FC of England midfielder said the Eagles have to fight harder than they have ever done to snatch the three points at the Borg El-Arab Stadium in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

“It’s a massive battle that we are going for and there should be no illusions about it. We have to face reality and everyone has to give more than 100 per cent, because we just have to qualify for the Cup of Nations,” said Obi, one of Nigeria’s outstanding players at the nation’s last time at the 2013 edition of the continental mundial.

The midfield enforcer insisted that there was no reason to panic, following Friday’s draw and pointed to the fact that there are still three more matches left in the campaign.

“We have to go to Alexandria and fight with everything we have. There are still matches to play and we have confidence that we will earn the ticket. We also call on Nigerians to believe in the team and continue to support us.”

After the double-header against Egypt, the Eagles will have to wait till the first week of June, when they to travel to Nd’jamena to battle the Le Sao of Chad, before hosting Tanzania in the final round of the series in the first week of September.

According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the players and officials will now travel to Alexandria on tomorrow aboard a chartered flight, as against an earlier arrangement to fly the delegation aboard Egypt Air. The team will fly direct to Alexandria and have the official training at the match venue on Monday evening, before Tuesday’s match.