The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has expressed confidence the Super Eagles will triumph successfully and win the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations ongoing in Cote D Ivoire.
The Super Eagles are already through to the round of 16 and will be playing the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Saturday the 27th of January at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. The Super Eagles started their journey with a one-all draw against the Equatorial Guinea team and defeated the host nation, Cote D Ivoire by one goal to nil before proceeding to their last game of the group against Guinea Bissau to cement their qualifications from the group stage to the round of 16 with seven points, second below Equatorial Guinea who are top on the table with superior goals count. The Eagles of Nigeria are gunning for their fourth title chase after their triumph three times as the champions of the competition on the continent.
The NFF.com gathered as the erudite President of the Nigeria Football Federation Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau expressed his unshakable confidence while speaking in an Interview with Afro Sport, in his words– “ We can’t say we have done badly the best thing is that if we can’t score more goals we shouldn’t concede and I think is helping us because the key thing is for the team to win and progress in the competition”
“There is a need to give the boys some slacks because these are boys who came into the camp ten days before the commencement of the tournament which is very difficult for them less than one week before the commencement of the competition, the next thing is to bunch into the tournament proper so, we need to give them time and I know the way we are progressing Nigerians wants to see changes in the team and by the grace of God the results will start coming”
The President while speaking dismissed every form of concern in the team saying administrative-wise, all is well in the camp.
“Well all is well and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has done the needful and on our part, we had to ensure their welfare is taken care of. The players want to make a name for themselves, if you look at the crop of players in the camp only two of them have tested being a champion in this tournament from the previous competition in 2013 when Nigeria won it last in South Africa so, about 23 of them including the African Footballer of the year, wants to make name for themselves in ensuring they win it, they know what is at stake and I don’t have any fear, we are going to progress”
When asked about his confidence in Nigeria winning the tournament in Cote D Ivoire, the passionate football president of the Federation without mincing words opened up with a lot of enthusiasm saying; “Not maybe, I have full confidence the boys will win it, that’s why we came up with a slogan ‘ let’s do it again’ and I’m happy a lot of Nigerians key into the trend of having the confidence that we can do it again, I have a lot of critics of the system today who are coming out boldly in expressing their belief that this team can do it again, and with the way it is going, by the grace of God they can win it and achieve the goal”
Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau also added that on Saturday’s encounter against the Cameroonian, he has no doubt the boys can still do it looking at the stats between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions, the Nigeria team weigh higher compared to them.
“If you look at the records, check it very well how many times did they win the Eagles and how many times we won them is what to check, we are not saying it’s not a big match whenever these two teams clashes is always a big match and rivalry too, both teams play a same pattern of football from almost the same region so, it’s not going to be easy but I’m sure the Eagles will take the day” The Super Eagles will be looking to make it through to the Quarterfinals in victory after Saturday’s clash at 8:pm in Abidjan and 9:pm in Nigeria time
