FORMER Nigeria international, Abiodun Baruwa has charged the Super Eagles to remain focused on the pitch and not take notice of the loud and intimidating Egyptian fans when they tackle the home team in Alexandria on Tuesday night.
After they failed to get a much-needed victory in Kaduna on Fri­day, Nigeria would be seeking a win in Alexandria on Tuesday so as to get their AFCON 2017 cam­paign back on course as they still trail the Pharaohs midway through the qualifiers.
Baruwa, who is now a UEFA cer­tified coach, was in goal for Shoot­ing Stars in the final of the 1996 CAF Champions League against Egypt’s Zamalek, said Egyptian fans would be loud and intimidat­ing but Eagles should not pay at­tention to them.
Zamalek and Shooting Stars played out a 3-3 draw after two legs with the Egyptians edging past their Nigerian rivals 5-4on penalties.
“Trust me, it’s football where anything can happen. They just played 45 minutes as far as I am concerned,” he said.
“Egyptian fans will be so loud and intimidating supporting their team, they get behind their team like never seen before, but if Ea­gles hold their nerves and play ac­cording to their plans they should win.
“They have to be more than 100% focused and neglect the fans, who will come out in large num­bers, but the Eagles must not lose concentration.”
It is expected that as many as 20,000 fans would be allowed into the Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alex­andria to cheer Egypt to victory on Tuesday.

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