Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is not happy that his compatriots
have written off the team before their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
quarter-final clash with Cote d’Ivoire.
The Ivorians, who were losing finalists in 2006 and 2012, are the
No.1 team in Africa according to FIFA and are favourites to win their
first AFCON since 1992.
When Keshi was reminded that even Nigerians back home expect the team
to fail against the star-studded Elephants, he shot back that it was a
‘big shame’.
“On paper it seems Cote d’Ivoire will kill everybody but it’s going
to be 11 versus 11 on Sunday and a game of 90 minutes,” Keshi told a
packed press conference at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Friday.
“People can think what they want but we have confidence in ourselves.
“It’s shameful that our own people don’t have confidence in our team.
It’s a big shame to think it’s going to be a walkover. Why won’t you
have confidence in your own children, why?”
Although the former Super Eagles captain insists that his players
will go into the match as Cote d’Ivoire’s equals, he believes they also
need the backing of Nigerians in order to succeed.
He added: “Writing us off before we’ve played is not good for the
players’ morale. The players are not happy that their own people are not
behind them. It’s a pity.
“We’ve given our best since the beginning of the competition and I
believe we deserve some respect. We’ll continue to do our best and not
allow anything bring us down.”
The match holds at 5pm here (4pm Nigeria) time on Sunday.
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