It’ll be tough to beat Super Eagles – Algeria coach

After naming his 18-man team for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Algeria’s coach, Georges Leekens has admitted in his maiden press briefing that the Eagles would a tough nut to crack.


Despite acknowledging the quality of his team, Leekens confessed, “Being good will not be enough there, we have to be 200% and most effective. Nigeria will be a very difficult match, I supervised and I analysed their game, we still have a lot of work because our opponents have grown enormously. I can tell you that we shall be 200% for the fight; it must be really tough out there, because being good is not enough, believe me. We must be efficient, if we want to achieve a result. “

“I discussed with my staff about the trust that must exist between us, we will work in full cooperation, I know time is short to prepare for a match like this, but I have been here since Wednesday and I am ready for my responsibilities in Nigeria,” he added.

The former Tunisia coach further said: “The technique is not enough, only a good state of mind makes you win a match. The coach of Nigeria has a list of 23 professional players who play abroad, you can check the list. At the highest level, sometimes football is played on the mental level. It is not only the technique and individual class but the most important is the spirit. “

He, however, urged his team, “Do not be afraid of this team, it is for us to raise doubts. I know we still have work hard to do it, but we should have complex against the big nations. I want us to erase the doubt about our opponents and not to give them too much respect in the way in which we play and our temperament.

“This is how Nigeria will attack against us. Nigeria will play in the back of our defense, we know how they attack. They also seek to play between the lines, so we must be sturdy. We have already started to dissect their game. I’m finding out about this team because it is my duty,” the coach said.

He refused to reveal his game plans for the encounter. “I will not reveal my plans, otherwise Nigerians will know everything about us and we will not reveal all, if not in two minutes, the Nigerian coach will know all about our plans. As a team, we must be smart and cleverer. Although, sometimes it is not always the smartest that win and that’s what I want to introduce into the spirit of this team.”