Nigeria and Benin are not mentioned in the same breath as far as football pedigree goes, but Eagles Striker Anthony Okpotu has played down the team’s favorites tag.

Okpotu said the team will play and fight for every ball against a foe they now know
all too well.

‘We’ve played with a focus and great detail throughout this competition and this game will be no different.

‘Though this is another game and competition, we want to believe, there’s a level of familiarity between the two teams but we take nothing for granted.

‘Yesterday’s achievements are inconsequential now, We’ll go out there and fight for every ball,’ the striker said.

Lobi Stars striker, Anthony Okpotu has expressed delight after scoring in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over rivals, Ghana on Monday at the ongoing WAFU Cup of Nations.

Okpotu scored 19 goals in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for the Makurdi-based side to emerge top scorer in the just concluded 2016/2017 season.

The goal poacher scored Nigeria’s first goal in the make-or-mar clash against Ghana on Monday after a goalless first half, and paved way for a second, which came off the boots of Plateau United attacking midfielder, Peter Moses Eneji, just four minutes later.

Speaking to npfl.ng after the game, the striker said it was a great feeling scoring for the national team.

“It is a great feeling scoring in the national team jersey. I am happy to have finally opened my goals account for my country,” he said.

Ahead of the remaining games of the competition, Okpotu said the team has resolved to take the remaining games one after the other and that they intend to make the nation proud.

Nigeria and Benin will clash in the first semi-final match at the WAFU Nations Cup later on Thursday.

The Eagles finished as runner-up in Group A; behind Ghana, while the Squirrels topped their group at the expense of Niger, Senegal and Ivory Coast.