By JOHN EGBOKHAN
Ex-international Etim Esim has warned the Super Eagles that Egypt will play like wounded lions when both teams battle for the automatic ticket to play in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Egypt, who are the record African champions, with seven titles, have been grouped in the same pool with the Nigerians, with just one team assured of an automatic place in the tournament to be hosted by Gabon while the two best-placed finishers also advance to the 16-nation competition.

HUMBLED: Super Eagles players listen to their coach before training ahead of the return clash with Sudan on Wednesday.

Since their last AFCON success in 2010 in Angola, where they set a new African record of three consecutive AFCON sweep, and going undefeated for 19 consecutive Cup of Nations matches, since a 2–1 loss against Algeria in Tunisia 2004 and a record 9 consecutive win streak, Egypt have not qualified for the continental soccer flagship tournament and are seeking a return to the summit of African football this time around.

For a nation with an enviable soccer history, not playing at the last three editions of the AFCON is a big dent on their rich history, which they are keen to change under as the 2017 qualifying race resumes soon.

In their bid to rejig things, Egypt have started a rebuilding process with coach Hector Cuper being mandated by top chiefs of the Egyptian soccer federation to qualify them for Gabon 2017 and speaking in an interview with Sports Vanguard, former Eagles midfielder has told his Nigerian folks to prepare for an atrocious battle with the Egyptians.

“Egypt are the best African side in the history of the African Nations Cup and having failed to qualify for the last three editions of the tournament, there is an urgent desire by Egyptians to return to a scene, which they are used to.

“Egyptians are passionate about  football. It is a glue that holds them together and their last three failures have hurt them so much that they just feel that they must bounce back as soon as possible. It is not going to be a tea party playing against them because they are a wounded team and would definitely play like one against us”, added Esin, who however feels that the Eagles can make the most of the eagerness of the Egyptians to qualify for the next tournament.

“It is common knowledge that when someone is desperate, he makes mistakes and I feel that our team can exploit this weakness of the Egyptians, who I feel still haven’t found that perfect blend to return to those great heights that they reached in the last decade”, said the former Lokeren of Belgium midfielder.