2025 AFCON: Go for the win — Adepoju, Garba Lawal charge Super Eagles

Ex-internationals, Mutiu Adepoju and Garba Lawal, have charged the Super Eagles to go for the win against the Mambas of Mozambique in a round of 16 match scheduled to take place on Monday in Fes, Morocco.

Nigeria recorded a 100 per cent record in the group stage with nine maximum points, defeating Tanzania by one goal to nil, beating Tunisia 3-2 and inflicting a 3-1 defeat on the Cranes of Uganda.

Admonishing the players, the 1994 AFCON winner and the Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold winner in separate interviews with Sporting Tribune called on the three-time African champions to approach the game against Mozambique with all seriousness and make use of every opportunity that comes their way.

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They called for teamwork while also charging the players for maximum concentration against the Mambas and moving to the next stage of the competition.

Adepoju said, “The Super Eagles must take the game seriously right from the beginning. They should know how dangerous Mozambique can be and make sure that they make use of every opportunity they have. 

“I also want to add that there should be a teamwork and there should be a balance from the defence to the midfield and to the attack.”

In his submission, Garba Lawal said, “It’s no more a group game. It’s one game, and a winner must emerge. We must approach the game as we approached the other game,s and now there must not be any individual mistake. We should avoid unnecessary mistakes. It’s a game of 90 minutes or maybe extra time, and a winner must emerge. 

“In the quarter-final, there’s nothing like complacency, and we should avoid a lot of mistakes. The game is going to be tough because when it comes to quarter-final stage, fatigue, injury, and tiredness set in, but the concentration must be there 200 per cent. The coach knows what to do at this stage.”