Coach of hosts Cote d’Ivoire Emerse Fae has said his team plan to unsettle the Super Eagles in tonight’s AFCON Final.
Nigeria beat the AFCON hosts 1-0 when both teams first clashed at the group stage of the tournament.
“Like any high-level match, like any final, it will come down to the details,” said former international Fae, who took over the team after Jean-Louis Gasset was sacked when they barely qualified for the knockout rounds of the competition.
“We will be patient. We will not rush. We will focus on starting the match well and be patient in order to unsettle them.”
He said both teams have improved as the competition went on.
“As the competition has progressed, the Nigerian team has gained strength. We had a very difficult journey at the beginning, but we gained momentum from the Round of 16 against Senegal. The teams are on equal footing, psychologically.” he explained.
“The fact that Nigeria had beaten us is a good thing because we know whom we are up against. The manner in which we prepare for the match with our players is critical.
“I think that the Super Eagles and ourselves are at the same level.
“We have a great opportunity; we are 90 minutes away from adding a third star to the Ivorian jersey.”
