The Super Eagles caretaker coach hopes the Watford striker can recover his scoring form when the Super Eagles meet the Pharaohs over two legs in the Afcon qualifiers
Despite having failed to find the back of the net in his last seven matches, Nigeria caretaker coach Samson Siasia has expressed confidence in the abilities of striker Odion Ighalo to hit the mark against Egypt when they play their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header this month.
The 26-year-old Watford man has not scored since January’s goal against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. But the national manager is not worried ahead the pair of matches against the Pharoahs.
“I am not worried about Ighalo’s recent lack of scoring goals for his club,” Siasia said.
“I have been in constant touch with the player and I know that he would deliver against Egypt home and away.
I know Ighalo for years now and I think I know what he is capable of doing. If he is in the right mood and gets the right delivery from the necessary quarters – I mean the midfield – I am sure he would bang in the goals against any team.
“I can assure you that Odion is desperate to deliver against Egypt because he knows the importance of the two matches and he told me, “Coach I want to be in Gabon o,” so no Pharaoh or Pharaohs can stop us from getting the 2017 AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) ticket.
“At times it happens like that to strikers but they can also quickly come back and start scoring goals at will. I am very optimistic that Odion will score for us against Egypt”, Siasia disclosed.
Siasia on Tuesday led the home based Super Eagles team to a 2-0 victory against the Fatai Amao-led Dream Team VI at the training pitch of the Abuja National Stadium.
Bright Onyedikachi from Ifeanyi Ubah scored a scorcher for the Eagles in the second half match while Godwin Obaje scored another beauty of a goal minutes later after a great work from Etebor Oghenekaro to silence the resilient U- 23 national team side.
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