AFCON 2023: We need 100% focus to beat S/Leone -Aribo

JOE Aribo has declared that the Super Eagles must put in their best to run over the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone as both countries clash on Thursday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

Aribo, who was part of the Super Eagles squad handled by Portuguese Jose Peseiro which lost the two friendlies in the United States to Mexico [1-2] and Ecuador [0-1] last week believes the team must get it right this time.

The Glasgow Rangers midfielder who holds the distinction of starting all the 19 games he had so far under Gernot Rohr, Augustine Eguavoen and Peseiro acknowledged that the Sierra Leonean side deserve respect.

“We know we have to give 100 per cent [into the match]. We need to showcase the talent that we have and hopefully that will get us over the line and take us to what we want which is three points.

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“I think in every single game we have, we are expected to win. We want to win first of all so the boys are ready, we are ready to go and hopefully we can get victory,” Aribo who featured at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon told journalists in Abuja on arrival into the Super Eagles camp.

The former Charlton Athletic player said he and his teammates in the camp would remain focused for the clash with a Sierra Leonean side which came from four goals down in Benin City on November 20, 2020 to play 4-4 with Nigeria in a 2021 AFCON qualifier.

“I’m here, the boys are ready, we are well rested, listening to the instructions from the coaches and we are going to just take ourselves out there and showcase what we can do,” he said.

On his possible move in the summer, Aribo said: “I’m not focused on that [summer move]. Right now I’m with Nigeria so I’m just focusing on playing with my country and representing my country.”

Aribo revealed that his former boss at Ibrox, Steven Gerard, gave his career a new lease of life.

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“He’s a good coach on and off the pitch. He [Gerrard] really helped me settle my first time away from home so I’ve got no bad word to say about him,” Aribo who in September 2019 scored on his international debut against Ukraine in a friendly said.

Recall in the ill-fated Benin-City match under Gernot Rohr, Nigeria had taken a four-goal lead through goals from Alex Iwobi (brace), Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze before the Sierra Leoneans began the rejuvenation with a goal before half time and completed the ‘Benin Mirace’ in the last half to leave Nigeria with a fair result.