Algeria national team head coach Vladimir Petkovic is confident that his side possesses the quality to triumph against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash, Footynaija.com reports.
Petkovic’s Desert Warriors have been outstanding in the tournament so far. After recording wins in all of their games so far, the 2019 AFCON winners will be looking to register their fifth straight win of the competition against Nigeria.
It will by no means be an easy task though, as the Super Eagles have also enjoyed top form in Morocco. They also boast a perfect record so far and have established themselves as the tournament’s most prolific attacking force.
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Speaking ahead of the clash that will take place at the Marrakech Stadium, Petkovic acknowledged the need to be in top shape ahead of the clash but also expressed confidence in his team’s ability to come out on top.
“The most important thing is the state of mind. It all starts from there, and from that point of view, we are irreproachable. We have the reliability and the quality,” Petkovic told reporters in Marrakech.
“We need to be just as good defensively as offensively. That will be paramount. All the details will matter against Nigeria. Nothing should be left to chance. We have the quality. We believe in ourselves and we just have to play a big game.”
The Algerians have history on their side heading into this particular encounter, with four wins from their last four clashes against the Super Eagles.
However, one thing that knockout competitions have shown in the past is that history can turn out to be mere statistics when push comes to shove.
