Former Nigeria Manager, Clemense Westerhof believes the Super Eagles will overcome their heartbreaking 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso on Monday and beat defending champions this Friday to remain on course for the quarter-finals of 2013 AFCON.
With the Chipolopolo of Zambia slated to battle the Super Eagles in their second match of Group C on Friday, Westerhof reckons the Nigerian side will be in for a real tough duel, but will come out victors.
“Zambia is a complete team. The match will be difficult, very difficult,” Westerhof predicts.
The Dutch man who managed the Super Eagles for five years between 1989 through 1994 expresses his confidence that Keshi has the magic wand to edge Zambia.
“Yes, Zambia is a complete team and defending champions. But I’m sure Keshi will fix the team (Super Eagles) better, and will win the crucial game,” he stresses.
Westerhof rates Monday's match between Super Eagles and their Stallions of Burkina Faso counterparts as the best in terms of quality so far at the Africa Cup of Nations holding in South Africa.
Westerhof who guided the Super Eagles to win the 1994 edition of the tournament in Tunisia tells Complete Sports from his home country that the two West African teams posted a commendable performance in their opening match of the 2013 AFCON in Nelspruit, South Africa.
“I watched the game (between Nigeria and Burkina Faso). It was an excellent performance by the two teams. I must confess that it was the best game I have seen so far in the competition,” Westerhof states.
The man reputed as Dutch-Gerian and who transformed Nigerian football into its glorious height in the 90s, winning the Nations Cup in Tunisia in 1994, leading the Eagles to their first ever FIFA World Cup finals in USA same year however expressed unhappiness over the Super Eagles inability to wrap up the game after taking a first half lead.
“The Super Eagles were on top of the game right from the start. They could have wrapped up the game. I think they let it slip when that (Efe Ambrose) defender was sent off and the Eagles could not manage his absence.
“Yes, it’s difficult under the situation, but I thought (Stephen) Keshi could have brought in that defender who plays with ADO DEN HAAG here in Holland (Kenneth Omeruo).
“He (Omeruo) could have been deployed to the left side of the defence while Ikechukwu Uche takes charge of the attack from the left.
“Again, that player in jersey number 7 (Ahmed Musa) should have kept the ball at the flag because the game was almost over. Once the attack was lost, one long ball by the Burkina Faso defenders and it was 1-1.”
The super Eagles one all draw with Burkina Faso on Monday left the AFCON group C wide open and square after Zambia drew 1-1 in the first Group C game.
With the defending champions slated to battle the Super Eagles in the group’s second game on Friday, Westerhof said the Nigerian side will be in for a real tough duel.
“Zambia is a complete team. The match will be difficult, very difficult”.
Westerhof who managed the Super Eagles for five years between 1989 through 1994 voiced his confidence that Keshi has the magic wand to edge Zambia.
“Yes, Zambia is a complete team and defending champions. But I’m sure Keshi will fix the team (Eagles) better and will win the game”, he stressed.
source: COMPLETE SPORT NIGERIA
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