Nigeria can defeat Cote D’Ivoire (MIKEL)

The Super Eagles midfielder has praised the work of the coach following their qualification for the last eight of the Afcon where they will now meet the ElephantsBy Lolade Adewuyi, In Rustenburg
Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has said that they have an
opportunity of stamping their authority on the Africa Cup of
Nations when they meet Cote D’Ivoire in Sunday’s quarter final
match.

 The Super Eagles defeated Ethiopia 2-0 courtesy of Victor Moses’
penalties late in the encounter on Tuesday night.

 “It’s been great for us qualifying [for the tournament] because
last time we didn’t make it. This time we’ve qualified and the
group of players we have, and the new manager we have – he’s come
into the team and made his stance. If you want to play for the
country you have to give a hundred and ten percent, that’s what he
demands from every player,” Mikel said at post-match press
conference.

 “We’ve come out here to do exactly what he wants us to do and to
play for Nigeria as well. I think it is fantastic, we’re enjoying
it.

 “Now we’re in the quarter finals, we just have to keep going and
do what we do in training and hopefully we will defeat Ivory Coast
and go to the semi finals. It’s going to be difficult but hopefully
we’ll make it.”

 The Chelsea midfielder rated the game against the Ethiopians
highly but that they knew what they were up against while preparing
for the encounter.

 “I think it was really tough, we knew they were coming into the
game looking to win it as well. We knew they were going to be
organised in the middle so we tried to make sure we didn’t play
through the middle.

 “They didn’t give me any space to play as well. Throughout the
game I had one or two people running behind me. It was tough but
sometimes I tried to get my space.

 “It was difficult for both teams but this is what you demand [of
yourself] when you come to a stage like this when you have to win
to qualify,” said Mikel.

 The Super Eagles will next take on the Elephants in a big West
African duel in Sunday’s quarter final encounter in Rustenburg.

source: m.goal.com

Eagles Still in Full Flight(WESTERHOF)

Westerhof gives Keshi’s team full marks, Dutchman optimistic team will improve


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

Super Eagles Trounce Portuguese 2nd Division Side, Farense 5-0, Depart For AFCON 2013

The Super Eagles ended their training camp in Faro, Portugal in style on Tuesday defeating Portuguese second division side, Farense 5-0, in a game described by the Nigerian  Coach Stephen Keshi as dress rehearsal for the team’s opening game against Burkina Faso on January 21.
The match, which was again played at the Browns Sports and Leisure Club in Faro, where the Nigerian side stayed throughout its sojourn in Portugal, was barely five minutes when right back, Efe Ambrose surging run into the danger area of the Portuguese was met with a vicious hacking. Centre referee Luis Costa wasted no time in pointing to the spot.
Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi, stepped in to coolly slot home the opener. But Farense made things difficult for the Eagles as Senegalese born striker, Sone Diop, Falardo and dangerman Fabio Texeira attacked sporadically in search of an equalizer that never happened. The Eagles on the other hand had plenty of chances to have buried the game in the first but Nosa Igiebor hit the cross bar thrice, Mikel followed suit with a fiery shot that also hit the bar and Emmanuel Emenike also missed a sitter.
In the second half Mr. Keshi made sweeping changes. Kenneth Omeruo was brought in to replace Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa for Elderson Echejile, Ogenyi Onazi for Mikel Obi, Sunday Mba for Igiebor, Obiorah Nwankwo for Fegor Ogude, Ikechukwu Uche for Brown Ideye, Gabriel Reuben for Efe Ambrose mid-way into the half, same as Vincent Enyeama whoi was replaced by Chigozie Agbim.
There was no immediate impact with the changes until in the 75th minute when an Emenike’s furious onslaught down the left wing of the pitch was clinically finished off by Ikechukwu Uche for one of his three goals of the evening. Goalkeeper Agbim must be credited for his quick counter-attack throw to Emenike.
Uche was to score another in the 80th minute after nice footwork by Ejike Uzoenyi left him face to face with goalie Sergio Serrar. He blasted into the roof of the net. He completed his hat trick of the evening after a fine interchange of passes between him, Onazi and Ejike.
Just as the referee was about blowing the final whistle Ejike set up Emenike for the final goal on the dot of 90minutes for a comprehensive demolition of the Farense side. The referee did not even allow for a restart after the fifth goal.
Farense Coach Antero Afonso said at the end of the encounter that his side has learnt useful lessons from the Nigerian national team and predicted that the Super Eagles will do well at the championship going by the quality of players he saw in the friendly. “You have what it takes to win the championship, but you must take each game as it comes and adopt different styles for different opposition. You have very quick players so don’t allow yourself to be under pressure at any time in the tournament. I may not know the teams that will be at the tournament but the team I saw today should be among the favorites to win the African Cup”, he said.
The Nigerian side will depart Faro by 12:30 Portuguese time for Lisbon from where the team will connect a flight to Paris, France and from there to Johannesburg, South Africa. The team is expected in Nelspruit, venue of two of its first two group games on Thursday morning. source: SAHARA REPORTERS

Stephen Keshi release list of final 23 players for South Africa 2013.

Stephen Keshi release list of final 23 players for South Africa 2013.

What do you say to the following set of players?


Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheba, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (FC Braga, Portugal); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, Turkey); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)

Midfielders: John Obi Mikel (Chelsea FC, England); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Obiora Nwankwo (Calcio Padova, Italy); Fegor Ogude (Valerenga FC, Norway); Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars, Nigeria)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Spartak Moscow, Russia); Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Ikechukwu Uche (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria)