NIGERIA’S goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has asked Algeria’s Desert Foxes to look elsewhere for favours as both countries look forward to a 2018 World Cup qualifier on November 12 in Uyo.
Ikeme, Nigeria’s first choice, is aware the Algerians are boxed in a tight corner having failed to win their home game against Cameroon on Match Day 1.
“They can’t find any luck with us. We have a very strong team that is hard to beat, we are very optimistic,” Ikeme told Wolves Express and Star.
He reminded the Algerians that the Uyo game is as crucial for the Eagles.
“We got a win in Zambia, it was a difficult one to achieve and we are not going to ruin what we started so well. I don’t feel that we would smile at the Algerians, at least for 90 minutes.”
He confessed that he knew nothing about the Algerians, either as team mates or opponents, but Ikeme describes himself as a ‘big boy’ in football.
“You may not know so much about your opponents.I am a big boy, I go to games with optimism and I only get excited about the game.”
Ikeme was born in Sutton Colfield, England and was persuaded to play for Nigeria by former national team coach, Sunday Oliseh. The Wolverhampton Wanderers FC captain says he has enjoyed international football with the Eagles.
“The Nigerian national team is the place to go, you see fantastic group of people who think the same way. The atmosphere has helped what happens on the pitch. We kind of stick together.’’
Meanwhile, reports from Algeria on Thursday claimed that Georges Leekens is set for his second spell with the Fennecs.
The country’s national radio and news medium, Ennahar, reported that the Belgian coach, who in 2003 was in charge of the team, was expected at the Federal Office in Sidi Moussa, Algiers, to sign a contract which will see him on the bench for the first time on November 12 against Nigeria.
It will be recalled that Serbian Milovan Rajevac had resigned as the coach of Algeria early this month following a 1-1 draw at home against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, in a match day one 2018 World Cup qualifier, leaving Algeria with no option but to look for another substantive coach.
