The Super Eagles lost to the Elephants in the 2006 and 2008 tournaments in Egypt and Ghana respectively.
The Elephants have no injury problems. Boubacar Barry, Yaya Toure and Gervinho are expected to return after being rested against Algeria.
Nigeria's Fedor Ogude is suspended but John Mikel Obi can play after it was confirmed by CAF that he has been booked only once.
Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo says he is fully fit after picking up a knock in the first group match.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi says the only pressure he feels ahead of the African Nations Cup quarter-final against Ivory Coast is due to the targets he sets for himself.
1980 in Lagos 0-0
1990 in Algeria 1-0 Nigeria
1994 in Tunisia 2-2 draw, Nigeria 4-2 winners on penalties
2006 in Egypt, 1-0 Ivory Coast victory
2008 in Ghana, 1-0 Ivory Coast
Facts:
Nigeria have never lost a Cup of Nations quarter-final match with Vincent Enyeama in goal.
He was in goal in the 2004, 2006 and 2010 editions. Nigeria beat Cameroon, Tunisia and Zambia respectively.
Nigeria have only lost a Nations Cup quarter final once - in 2008 to Ghana.
Talking Coaches:
Ivory Coast Sabri Lamouchi:
"We're into "money time," you could say, there is no room for error, especially because we're facing a very good Nigeria side, the slightest error can be very costly.
"If you win, you continue the adventure; if you don't you have to go home so it's effectively a whole new tournament starting from now."
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi:
"I'm not under any pressure but I'm under Stephen Keshi's pressure, to do well for Nigerians. Any outside pressure does not exist with me. But I have my own targets and goals I want to achieve. Now if you want to call that pressure, that's pressure.
"We have our confidence. Nigerians have decided we are failures already but we will come out and show something quality about our game on Sunday."
John Mikel Obi: "The media keep reminding us that Ivory Coast are unbeatable - we shall see. "
Nigeria XI vs Ivory Coast: Enyeama, Ambrose, Omeruo, Oboabona, Echiejile, Onazi, Mba, Mikel, Moses, Ideye, Emenike.
Playing formation: 4-3-3
Enyeama - GK
Ambrose - RB
Omeruo - CB
Oboabona - CB
Echiejile - LB
Onazi - MDF
Mikel - MDF
Mba - MDF
Moses - ATT
Emenike - ATT
Ideye - ATT
The Ivorians has a very good and formidable team that plys good possession and accurate passes,thats why you can't find them playing under pressure.
ReplyDeleteOur team are good individually,but lacks that positional play which puts us under pressure and they always running too much with the ball.They do say winning is a winning but right from the group stage we haven't won convincingly....As a Nigerian i wish them well!...Akanno Chibuike Owewe