Last year, Niger hosted the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations but the Junior Menas fell like a pack of cards starting with a 2-0 loss to Nigeria in the tournament’s opening match and eventually failed to qualify for FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.
This term, the Junior Menas under the guidance of Soumaila Tiemogo have been in excellent form and sensationally edged out defending world champions, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria in their previous second round qualifier towards the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Madagascar.
This term, the Junior Menas under the guidance of Soumaila Tiemogo have been in excellent form and sensationally edged out defending world champions, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria in their previous second round qualifier towards the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Madagascar.
This weekend, the Nigeriens take a slim 1-0 advantage to Libreville for the second leg, final round qualifier against Gabon and Tiemogo has posited his wards will be ready in their quest to secure a ticket to Madagascar. Here are the excerpts from the interview with CAFOnline.com;
You have a difficult game in Libreville after 1-0 win in Niamey, what are your chances of going through?
We have a very good group (crop of players) and this is our greatest strength. We have a group that is capable of winning any match; we eliminated the reigning world champions, Nigeria and this is good for the confidence of our players. Anything is possible with these young determined players. We will play with great determination against Gabon. We are ready, so the dynamic question of losing in Libreville does not arise.
Do you think Gabon has an advantage after suffering a narrow loss in the first leg?
This is true but the determination and courage of my players would serve an extra mile. We have an extra motivation to achieve our target.
How do you rate the Gabonese team compare to the Nigerians you defeated in the previous round?
They are both very good teams but Nigeria appear better. They have won several African and world titles. The Gabonese, on the other hand is a good group with some pretty interesting group of players too. We have played some difficult matches to get to this stage but the biggest will inevitably be this second leg against Gabon in Libreville on Saturday, because it will secure our ticket for the Africa Cup of Nation in Madagascar.
My philosophy is the same and, to play to win. We will give our 200 percent if necessary to seek this qualification. With the whole of Niger behind us, we will honour this wonderful people.
Fixtures
Saturday, 1 October 2016
Cote d’Ivoire vs Ghana (1-3)
Gabon vs Niger (0-1)
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Ethiopia vs Mali (0-2)
Guinea vs Senegal (1-0)
Cameroon vs Sudan (2-4)
Congo vs Tanzania (2-3)
Comoros vs Angola (0-5)
You have a difficult game in Libreville after 1-0 win in Niamey, what are your chances of going through?
We have a very good group (crop of players) and this is our greatest strength. We have a group that is capable of winning any match; we eliminated the reigning world champions, Nigeria and this is good for the confidence of our players. Anything is possible with these young determined players. We will play with great determination against Gabon. We are ready, so the dynamic question of losing in Libreville does not arise.
Do you think Gabon has an advantage after suffering a narrow loss in the first leg?
This is true but the determination and courage of my players would serve an extra mile. We have an extra motivation to achieve our target.
How do you rate the Gabonese team compare to the Nigerians you defeated in the previous round?
They are both very good teams but Nigeria appear better. They have won several African and world titles. The Gabonese, on the other hand is a good group with some pretty interesting group of players too. We have played some difficult matches to get to this stage but the biggest will inevitably be this second leg against Gabon in Libreville on Saturday, because it will secure our ticket for the Africa Cup of Nation in Madagascar.
My philosophy is the same and, to play to win. We will give our 200 percent if necessary to seek this qualification. With the whole of Niger behind us, we will honour this wonderful people.
Fixtures
Saturday, 1 October 2016
Cote d’Ivoire vs Ghana (1-3)
Gabon vs Niger (0-1)
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Ethiopia vs Mali (0-2)
Guinea vs Senegal (1-0)
Cameroon vs Sudan (2-4)
Congo vs Tanzania (2-3)
Comoros vs Angola (0-5)
By: Cafonline.com
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