Ahead of the international friendly tie between Costa Rica and Nigeria, Coach of the Super Eagles team B, Salisu Yusuf has predicted a very tough outing against the Central Americans.
The former Rangers and Elkanemi Warriors handler stated this while speaking exclusively with Sunday Agunbiade (Mr. VAR) via a phone call from Real Intercontinental hotel in San Jose. He assured football-loving Nigerians that his lads would give a good account of themselves come Wednesday(Thursday in Nigeria).
“Hello Sunday, good evening. We had a smooth ride to Costa Rica, traveling from Lagos to Istanbul, to Bogota, Panamas, and then, to San Jose in Costa Rica. My team is in good shape and we don’t have any injury concerns. We had our first training session on Monday at match time, 8 pm and we only walked out this morning. Then, we are going to have our second training tonight by 8 pm (3 am Nigerian time) at the venue of the match.”
The 2018 CHAN finalist gaffer added that: “So far so good, everybody is in good shape, we are in good spirit and I believe the team will give a good account of themselves against La Tricolor “.
Going down memory lane, the World Cup-bound side has not had it so smooth against African sides having lost twice against South Africa and won each against Cameroon and Tunisia. For Nigeria, this will be the first time meeting with the Central Americans and the West African giant have unpalatable records against CONCACAF representatives having lost three out of six matches to Mexico and the USA and defeated Jamaica twice.
On the hosts, Costa Rica have not lost their last four matches and they got to the quarter-finals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup losing via penalty Shootouts to the Netherlands. They are expected to test their wits and mighty against the three-time African Champions come Wednesday.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm Costa Rica time on Wednesday, 9 November (3 am, 10 November in Nigeria).
By: Sunday Agunbiade (Mr. VAR)
