The Super Eagles have assured Nigerians that they are capable of winning the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations beginning in Ghana this Sunday.
Nwankwo Kanu, captain of the senior national soccer team yesterday gave this declaration on behalf of his colleagues during a whistle-stop over at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos enroute Secondi, Ghana where they are to campaign in Group B alongside Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Benin Republic.
The Nigerian hopefuls who arrived Lagos at 4.40pm were looking trim and fresh from 12 days of drilling at a camp in Malaga, Spain. They are, however, not relying on their skills alone to give them the cup but prayers of Nigerians who are equally passionate about the country winning for the third time after picking bronze in the last three consecutive editions.
"After the work (training) in Spain, we are all high in spirit to go out there and win but we will also ask all Nigerians to pray for our collective success," observed the Portsmouth forward fondly called Papillo by ball fans.
The former Arsenal forward while admitting that team work would go along way in helping the cause of Nigeria in the quest for the trophy, hinted that there will be no complex problem in the Eagles as in previous tournaments.
"Team work means a lot to us. Team work is now very high more than ever before and can assure Nigerians that there are no super stars. We are all in the team for the common good of the country," he noted.
Kanu, while re-iterating the conducive atmosphere the team trained in while in Malaga, said after undergoing such a programme they were in the right mood to go all out for the title.
Commenting on the claim by Benin Football Federation (FBF) President El-Hadj Anjorin Moucharaf to use juju to destabiles their foes, including Nigeria, in Sekondi, Kanu stressed that was why it was important for Nigerians to get behind the team with their prayers.
“Although I don’t believe in the ability of juju to influence the outcome of matches, that does not mean that we shouldn’t pray against such things,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos who received the team along with NFA chairman Sani Lulu Abdullahi, Ademola Adeniji Adele, Lagos State Sports Commissioner and Waidi Akanni Lagos FA chairman on behalf of President Umar Musa Yar'Adua had urged the players to be disciplined in everything they do.
"Football is life in Nigeria. It is the only thing that makes us to forget our differences. As the No. 1 team in Africa according to FIFA rating, you must at all times be disciplined, work as a team for the success of the team. Your coach is a veteran who is well known for discipline.
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