TheCable

The national U-23 coach, Samson Siasia, says he won’t adopt an ultra-defensive tactics of “parking the bus”, made famous by Chelsea’s boss Jose Mourinho, when the Dream Team face Zambia in Lusaka.

Nigeria and Zambia are vying for a ticket for the All-Africa Games soccer event. The first leg of their encounter ended goalless in Abuja and Nigeria need a win by any margin or a score draw to book a place in Congo-Brazzaville, hosts of the Games.

Siasia knows what’s expected of his team.

“We are not going to Zambia to play defensive tactics. We are an attacking side and we will go there to attack. We will not park the bus like Mourinho,” he said.

“Even though we are an attacking team, we must also defend smartly. We’re going to a hostile environment and we must be disciplined and avoid playing unnecessary offside traps, which could cost us.

“But our mission is clear; which is to win there and that we hope to do.”