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'Mental attitude' Team spirit is key, say Nigeria and Senegal coaches
Posted: Sunday February 06, 2000 09:48 AM
LAGOS (Reuters) -- Team spirit will decide the African Nations' Cup quarterfinal clash between Nigeria and Senegal, the two countries' coaches said on Sunday. "Having the right mental attitude and team spirit is what will decide the game," said Senegal's German trainer Peter Schnittger, though he admitted that Nigeria had better quality players. "Even with the best quality players, if there's no team spirit and mutual understanding, a side won't win. That's the key for Monday's match," Nigeria's Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere told Reuters. "Even before our 0-0 draw with Congo, I told the boys that common thought of purpose and not individual skills produces victory in a match," said Bonfrere. All but one of the Nigerian squad plays with overseas clubs while Senegal have a mix of players based at home and abroad. The local fans reacted furiously after Nigeria's second Group D game against Congo, hurling plastic bottles on to the pitch. They smashed the window of the team bus before being dispersed by tear gas fired by police. "With the right team spirit we beat Morocco 2-0 to qualify for the quarters," said Bonfrere, who trained the Nigerian under-23 side which won gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Morocco's midfielder Hassan Kachloul said his side lost to Nigeria, leading to the North Africans' exit from the tournament, due to a lack of team spirit. Senegal drew 2-2 with Zambia to qualify with defending champions Egypt from Group C although Schnittger said they were lucky to have got the result. "But we wouldn't have achieved that if we didn't have self-belief and unity of thought that we could qualify," said the coach, who has worked in Africa for 32 years. The best result for the 59-year-old Schnittger in the Nations' Cup was getting the Ivory Coast to the semifinals in 1970. "My players and I are here to create surprises. They are determined to give me memories of what I achieved 30 years ago," added Schnittger, who played with German club Hamburg. Bonfrere, a folk hero in Nigeria since achieving the Olympic win, said team captain Sunday Oliseh, who missed the Morocco match due to malaria, had not recovered and might miss the match. Schinttger said that although striker Brahim Papa Sarr had a neck sprain he would be fit for Monday's game.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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