High-flying Nigeria will welcome closest rivals Cameroon in the next round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in August 2017 and coach Salisu Yusuf has warned they will be tougher than Algeria.
Saturday’s 3-1 over Algeria in Uyo has consolidated Nigeria’s lead in Group B with six points, while Cameroon are second on the table with two points after they forced Zambia to a 1-1 draw at home.
In August 2017, Nigeria will first host the Indomitable Lions and four days play the reverse tie in Cameroon.
However, Salisu Yusuf said he expects the robust-playing Cameroonians to pose a tougher challenge to the Super Eagles.
“We have to look at Cameroon now because they are a good team defensively, they are not conceding goals, they are not losing games,” he said.
“When they played against Algeria (last month), they had 10 men behind the ball. To penetrate such a team will be difficult.
“They will be even tougher than Algeria were against us in Uyo.
“They are as physical as we are, they will match us power for power. They also have young players like us and they are physical.
“When we beat Cameroon, we could then say we are 60% to the World Cup.
“It’s not done yet. For now we are leading our group. We need to take all our home points, that’s very crucial. We therefore have to remain focused because a football game is not over until it is.
Yusuf was part of the squad when Nigeria beat Cameroon 3-0 in a friendly in Belgium in October 2015, but the Eagles chief coach insisted it will be a different ball game when both teams clash again.
“Times and circumstances have changed since that match,” he said.
“But with the way we are going and the form of our players at their various clubs, we can beat them again.”
credit: africanfootball