Beat B/Faso, Keshi Charges Eagles  

Published on September 10, 2013 by pmnews   ·   1 CommentChief Coach of reigning African Champions, Stephen Keshi has charged his wards to beat the Stallions of Burkina Faso in tonight’s international friendly match billed for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna State, northern Nigeria.
The Stallions would be coming on a revenge mission after losing to Nigeria in the final of the South Africa 2013 African Cup of Nations, AFCON but Keshi, who was skippered the team said the Eagles are ready for their fellow West African opponents.
Keshi admitted that their opponents play ‘trickery and robust’ football but he is not worried with any antics that they would bring to the party today.
The former Eagles of Mali and Hawks of Togo said the Eagles have all to play hence the need to go all out for an emphatic victory to also prove a point that the victory recorded earlier in the year was no fluke.

FLASHBACK…Burkina Faso’s midfielder Charles Kabore (left) tackles Nigeria’s forward Sunday Mba during the 2013 African Cup of Nations in February. The two teams meet again in an international friendly match in Kaduna, Nigeria today. PHOTO: AFP.

According to the former Anderlecht of Belgium defender: “We are going to play this match as if it is the final playoffs for the World Cup, from what I gathered our opponents would want to avenge the defeat we handed them in South Africa but we are ready for them.”
Keshi also disclosed that he would be using fringe players in his fold against the Stallions saying “This game will help us to take a look at the team again. We need to see different applications and work on certain areas that we feel need a bit of work, “It’s good we are utilising the window. The Malawi win was good, but the hard work has just started.”
Burkina Faso have won three of their last four away games and have suffered only two defeats in seven matches since their Cup of Nations loss to the Super Eagles.
Though, the duo of Mikel Obi of Chelsea FC of England and onloan Liverpool FC of England winger Victor Moses who masterminded the fall of Malawi on Saturday will be unavailable for this tie, Keshi boasts of a very rich bench to ensure that their absence is not felt against the Burkinabes who will also be missing the services of star striker, Aristide Bance.
Prior to the game, Burkina Faso have won three of their last four away games and have suffered only two defeats.
It is worthy of note that in 12 previous encounters, Nigeria boast of eight wins and four draws with the Stallions conceding 32 goals in the process.