TheCable

Samson Siasia, coach of the U-23 national team, says Wednesday’s group B match against Egypt would not be a walkover but that his players will improve in their second match in the Africa U-23 Championship.

Siaisia said his players will be more careful to avoid pressure from their opponents.

“I am very happy and also thank God Almighty for winning the first group match against Mali. The first game of every tournament is always very difficult and needs to be handled with utmost care if not you may lose the game and put serious pressure on the team in the remaining two matches of the group,” he said.

“Now that we won the first match we know what to do to win the second that we expect will be more difficult and technical. Playing against Egypt won’t be easy at all but we will work hard on the field of play to win the match.

“We have identified the problematic area in the team which is the defense line. We have always paraded a very strong defense line but the inclusion of some new players has not made the line to be very effective against the Malians.

“The players that have joined are some of the best we have in the league but just needed time to blend together. I can assure everybody that they will leave up to their billings in the next match against Egypt.”