Leadership (Abuja)
25 January 2008
Super Eagles defender, Onyekachi Apam, has said that his side are determined to beat Mali in today Africa Cup of Nations decisive clash if they are to stay on course for their third continental triumph.
The Super Eagles lost their opening match of the tournament to Côte d'Ivoire and are bottom of the standings after Mali beat Benin for maximum points.
"We have no choice but to beat Mali. We are must win that game as well as our final match against Benin. We have the quality to win this cup but we have to prove it on the pitch."
Watford defender, Danny Shittu, added: "We have to beat Mali to stay in this tournament. We were all disappointed we did not get anything from the Ivory Coast match and that is why we must get it right on today."
Under-fire Eagles' German handler, Berti Vogts, has taken responsibility for the loss to the Ivorians, and has promised to effect some changes to his starting team with the strike force of Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni most likely to be changed. Either Ikechukwu Uche or Obinna Nsofor is likely to come into the German's starting XI.
Doubts also surround the availability of skipper Nwankwo Kanu, who limped out against the Côte d'Ivoire and has since been training apart from the rest of the squad. Steaua Bucharest defender, Ifeanyi Emeghara, will still have no part to play in this tournament as his knee injury has persisted and, therefore, he has had to undergo a scan to determine the severity of the problem.
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