Nigeria Wary Of Fresh Mozambique Challenge At Angola 2010

Nigeria have been warned to take Mozambique more seriously when they clash again at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Both teams were drawn in the same first round group on Friday.

Highly-fancied Nigeria laboured to a goalless draw against Mozambique at the dreaded Machava Stadium in Maputo in a combined Nations and World Cup qualifier in March, before they grabbed a late Victor Obinna winner against the Mambas in October.

The Eagles, who begin their Nations Cup quest against Egypt on January 12, owe their Mozambican counterparts a huge debt after the Southern Africans defeated Tunisia to pave the way for Nigeria to qualify for their fourth World Cup finals on the concluding day of action.

“This is not an easy group as some would want us believe,” chairman of the technical committee of the Nigeria football Federation (NFF), Taiwo Ogunjobi, said.

“All the same, I believe that Nigeria and Egypt, who are the defending champions and who have something to prove after they failed to qualify for the World Cup, will advance from this group.

"It was not easy for us against Mozambique in the World Cup qualifiers, both in Maputo and Abuja. They have proved they are a good side, the same as Benin. We [will] have to be at our best because no team can be taken for granted any longer.”

Former African Footballer of the year, Victor Ikpeba, echoed Ogunjobi’s concerns that it will not be a stroll for Nigeria in the first round of Angola 2010.

“We, along with Egypt, will be the favourites to qualify from this group, but at the same time, we cannot afford to take either Mozambique or Benin lightly,” Ikpeba told Goal.com.

“Mozambique impressed everyone when they came up against us in the qualifiers and both they and Benin could still surprise us in Angola.

“However, with good preparation, hard work and humility we should go through to the next round of the tournament.”

Defending champions Egypt and Benin are the other teams in Group C, which will be based in the city of Benguela.

"After their failure to qualify for the World Cup, the confidence of the Egyptian team will be very low and it may be difficult for them to pick themselves up in time for the Nations Cup," added Ikpeba.

Nigeria will again clash with next door neighbours Benin in the first round of the Nations Cup. They defeated the Squirrels, who parade several Nigerian-born players, such as Razak Omotoyossi, on their Nations Cup debut at the 2004 edition in Tunisia. In Ghana 2007, they won 2-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Samm Audu, Goal.com