Anthony Okpotu who have been roundly criticised by Nigerians for wasting so many goal scoring chances for the Nigerian team at the ongoing CHAN championship is indeed a very good striker according to coach Salisu Yusuf.
Ahead of tomorrow’s final game against host Morocco, the coach while back his decision to stick with the player who has scored two goals in the five games they have played at the tournament backed him to find his bearing against Morocco.
However the coach did admit that the forward need to improve on his conversion rate, but overall he is pleased with his general contribution to the team aside from scoring goals as the main striker.
” Anthony Okpotu has scored two goals , but missed some chances too . If you observe very well, Okpotu is a very good striker , even in the league he started scoring goals late in the season, I don’t know if that is how his own destiny works , but I insist that he is a good striker.
“He works hard for the team, he troubles the opposition defence and he has scored two important goals for Nigeria and these goals kept the team in the tournament . I don’t have any problem with the attack”, Yusuf told Owngoalnigeria.com
“We scored seven goals and conceded just two and I think it is a good statistics for the team. Angola only scored a goal before getting to quarter final. I think the strikers have done well considering the number of matches we have played and the situation we find ourselves and moreover you don’t need plenty goals to win a tournament”.
Okpotu will judging by the words of the coach lead the line tomorrow against Morocco, with his partnership with Gabriel Okechukwu who scored the winner for Nigeria in the semi-final game against Sudan off a flick from the Lobi Stars man most likely his option in attack.
“Okpotu is ready, Gabriel Okechukwu has not disappointed with his two goals and Mustapha Ibrahim is another reliable striker we have and they are all in good shape and we will know what will happen based on the last training before the final game, but I am very happy with the attackers in the team and they have not disappointed me in anyway”, he remarked.
The match will take place by 8:00pm Nigerian time, with Nigeria eyeing history of lifting the trophy for the first time since their first appearance at the tournament in 2014, where they finish third.
Ade Emmanuel
