The Young Pretender Leaves Okocha Waiting
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| The Young Pretender Leaves Okocha Waiting | ||||||
| Port Said - February 4, 2006 | ||||||
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Nigeria v Tunisia The imminent return of captain Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha means Eguavoen can pick his one-time team mate in the starting line-up, but it would probably come at the expense of the 18-year-old John Obi Mikel, whose star status has been overtly apparent at the MTN Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Nigeria, with three successive victories at the tournament, have not looked to miss the playmaking skills of the English-based Okocha, who has had to sit out the first round phase because of a thigh injury. |
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Nigeria start as favourites against the defending champions, who lost their last game in Group C and finished second to Guinea. Tunisia are hoping Hatem Trabelsi recovers from illness in time for the game to strength a side who will surely display a cautious approach against the Super Eagles. Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre has shrugged off having to play Nigeria in the quarter-finals and said he was confident his side were still on course to defend their title. Tunisia have shuffled their side for all three matches at the MTN Africa Cup of Nations so far but the likes of Riadh Bouazizi and Kaies Ghodhbane are likely to be brought back to strengthen up the midfield for the match against Nigeria. It is also a chance for the Brazil-born Francileudo dos Santos to add to his four goals in the tournament, one shy of the top goal scorer Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon. | ||||||
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