Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo has revealed how they will handle ‘dark arts’ from the Algerians when they meet in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Sunday. North Africans are generally known for feigning injuries and time wasting, especially when they are winning matches.

@ColinUdoh I don't know if you've seen this video. This Algerian player took the Ivorian player's hand & hit his face with it, then fell down, just to get the Ivorian player sent off. Don't you think CAF needs to see & take action on this? @NGSuperEagles needs to be careful. pic.twitter.com/f38pODfzgr

— Ayoola (@ayoolatopezion) July 12, 2019

 

Omeruo, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Saturday, stated that the best way to deal with those kind of tricks is to be careful and stay smart.
He said: “We just have to be careful and stay smart. The coach always says no fouls around the box and we have to be very careful against Algeria because they are fast and skillful too. When we won in 2013 we had established players but now we have a team for the future.”
“We have a good technical crew who help us with everything about our opponents. All our efforts are geared towards Algeria and hopefully we’ll get the result tomorrow.”
While the Chelsea players were involved in the early part of the team’s pre-season were in action in Ireland on Wednesday night, over in Egypt, Kenneth Omeruo was winning his 50th cap and helping Nigeria into the last four at the Africa Cup of Nations.

"..never think about the final but think about the next game only.."

Words to go by??#TotalAFCON2019 pic.twitter.com/mFGG3aqco0

— CAF (@CAF_Online) July 13, 2019

 

The 25-year-old who spent last season on loan in Spain was in the Super Eagles defence as they beat South Africa in a quarter-final in Cairo thanks to an 89th-minute winner.
“We are looking forward to what’s next and we prepare well for every match. My advice to the players is to never think about the final but think about the next game only. When you take everything step by step, you don’t know when the journey ends”.
Samuel Chukwueze, who also plated in the Spanish league last season, had put Nigeria 1-0 up in the first half, the Villarreal player converting from an Alex Iwobi cross, but South Africa equalised with 20 minutes left to play through a goal that was only awarded after a VAR review.
Omeruo and his colleagues were spared extra-time when William Troost-Ekong, who plays his club football in Italy at Udinese, netted his late goal in leave the Super Eagles two games short of a fourth AFCON title.