World Cup qualifier: Eagles won’t respect Algeria’s new coach —Ezenwa

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, has said Algeria’s choice of Georges Leekens as new coach will count for nothing when Nigeria host the north Africans in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match in November.

Eagles will host the Algerian Desert Foxes in an African group B 2018 World Cup qualifier on November 12 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The Belgian was handed a second spell by Algeria on Thursday to replace the ousted Serbia’s Milovan Rajevan.

But Ezenwa says the present crop of Eagles want to pick the World Cup ticket with a game to spare in the qualifying campaign.

“Georges Leekens’ appointment as Algeria’s coach does not scare us and will count for nothing when both sides meet on November 12.

“The body language and spirit among the players speaks volume of a side who want to pick the World Cup ticket before the last match.

“The mindset of the players is to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, so nobody will be considered too tough an obstacle to scuttle the lofty dream.

“Most of the players in the Eagles have not been to the mainstream World Cup and they want to be there to have a true feel of what it looks like.

“I may have participated in the FIFA U-20 World Cup for me and others, but that’s a youth championship we want to experience the real World Cup.

“Our minds are focused on beating the Algerians, irrespective of who calls the shot as head coach,” the FC IfeanyiUbah keeper told supersport.com.

Nigeria lead the group on three points after a 2-1 win over Zambia in Ndola, while Algeria and Cameroon share one point in the group.