Mozambique midfielder Ricardo Guimarães has expressed confidence that his team can upset Nigeria after identifying what he described as a key weakness in the Super Eagles’ setup ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 encounter.
Speaking ahead of the knockout tie, Guimarães said the Mozambican camp has carefully studied Nigeria’s recent matches and believes there are areas that can be exploited to secure a famous victory. While he did not go into tactical details, the midfielder hinted that lapses in organisation at certain moments could give his side an edge.
“We respect Nigeria; they are a big team with quality players,” Guimarães said. “But no team is perfect. We have analysed them very well and we know where we can hurt them. If we stay disciplined and take our chances, we believe we can win.”
The Super Eagles qualified for the knockout stage after an impressive group campaign, showing defensive solidity and attacking firepower. However, Mozambique’s comments suggest their opponents are confident Nigeria can be troubled under pressure.
Mozambique, considered underdogs going into the tie, have already earned plaudits for their fighting spirit at the tournament and are hoping to spring another surprise against the three-time African champions.
The AFCON round of 16 clash is expected to be keenly contested, with Nigeria aiming to assert their pedigree, while Mozambique look to capitalise on any weakness to extend their fairytale run.
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