Vladimir Petkovic, the head coach of the national football team, described Wednesday’s match against Equatorial Guinea as “tricky” and emphasized its importance for finishing the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on a high note. The match is set to kick off at 5:00 p.m., with Petkovic highlighting the need for a third consecutive victory in Group E.
“Even though we have already advanced to the next stage, this game carries significant weight for team morale and maintaining our winning momentum. We want to showcase our true qualities, both as individual players and collectively as a team, and continue our development as we prepare for the knockout rounds,” he stated during a press conference.
The national team has enjoyed a strong start to their AFCON campaign, securing two victories—3-0 against Sudan and 1-0 against Burkina Faso—securing their top position in the group ahead of the final match.
Petkovic acknowledged the challenge posed by their upcoming opponents, Equatorial Guinea, who unfortunately saw their hopes dashed after two losses to Burkina Faso (2-1) and Sudan (1-0). “This will be a challenging match; they have faced some tough luck, particularly in their opening game. While we respect them, our primary focus is on our performance, and we certainly aim for a win tomorrow,” he remarked.
Looking ahead to the clash with Equatorial Guinea’s “Nzalang Nacional,” Petkovic anticipates a fiercely contested encounter. “It will be a demanding and crucial game where we need to give our utmost. We have met before, so there’s mutual familiarity. I expect it to be tightly contested and remain on a knife-edge,” he said, suggesting that he may implement changes to the starting lineup.
“Tomorrow, I plan to make some adjustments, but I still need to evaluate how the players feel. Not everything is finalized yet. I have confidence in my squad, and while I’ll determine the extent of changes, it will not be the same eleven that started the last two matches,” he concluded.
As the team gears up for this important match, fans remain hopeful that their national squad will continue to build on their successful start in the tournament and maintain their winning spirit as they enter the knockout phase.