Guinea’s national team, Syli Nationale coach, Paul Put has come out with a down-to-earth confession that Nigeria will be a tough opponent for his side at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Both teams will lock horns in their second group match during this year’s continental soccer showpiece, and though Guinea enter the game with memories of how they stopped Nigeria from reaching AFCON 2012 in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea, Put is holding awe for the Super Eagles.
The Belgian soccer tactician remembers that it was Nigeria that stopped his former team, Burkina Faso in their first ever AFCON final, at South Africa 2013, and he is apprehensive of suffering the same fate in Egypt.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, although it took a slim 1-0 win, courtesy of Sunday Mba’s 40th minute sizzler to help Nigeria carry the day back then in Johannesburg, Put is still haunted by the setback.
Six years on, Put is already holding trepidation ahead of their Group B clash but the gaffer, who has also handled Kenya’s senior national team, Harambee Stars and USM Alger FC of Algeria, believes he can push Syli Nationale to pull off another shock against the Nigerians.
Put declared: “I believe in our chances, but we need to work very hard for it. It will not be easy for us.
“We have Nigeria, a strong opponent and I have good memories against them from 2013 with Burkina Faso.
“I hope I can make the same experience with Guinea. It will be very difficult to play against them but I hope we can get out of this group.
“Madagascar and Burundi are seen as outsiders but it is never easy playing against outsiders.
“It is not easy and maybe we will have to play until the last day of the group.”
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