Nigeria V Congo Brazzaville: What Keshi And The Players Are Saying

The Supers Eagles have been speaking with confidence ahead of today’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville at the UJ Esuene Stadium in the city of Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

Some of the players that spoke in separate interviews with Saturday Sunsports vowed to defy the crisis currently rocking the nation’s foot­ball administration as well as the dreaded Ebola virus epidemic in some African countries, with Congo Brazzaville among the worst hit, to ensure victory for Nigeria and set the part to a successful defence of the ti­tle they won last year in South Africa in Morocco next year.

Kenneth Omeruo (Middles­brough FC of England)

“We are all aware of the [adminis­trative] crisis, but we’re all focused on playing to make Nigerians proud. We lack no support and so we won’t bother ourselves with such matters, as long they don’t affect us.

“We have the usual support of Ni­gerians. So our attention is on de­fending our Nations Cup title and that starts against Congo,”

“I’m happy to be back to the team. We all know why we are here. It’s the qualifiers for the Nations Cup and our defense of the title we won in 2013 begins on Saturday (today). We are prepared for the game and anxious to win.

“It’s team work and everyone is fo­cused on ensuring we earn a remark­able start to our title defence against Congo on Saturday (today).

Ahmed Musa (CSKA Mos­cow, Russia)

“We already know ourselves and we know that we will win on Sat­urday (today). Nigerians need not worry. We are playing at home and I don’t think we are here to lose at home. On Saturday (today), the bet­ter side will win.

“I can tell you that we are prepared and we know Nigerians want us to succeed. With the caliber of play­ers we have in camp, the match will come and go with victory on our side. All the players are in high spirit and we are all determined to give our best on Saturday (today)”.

Efe Ambrose (Celtic Glasgow FC, Scotland)

“I am here to help my country sur­mount whatever huddle the Congo­lese may pose. Come Saturday (to­day), we will make Nigerians happy so that we will right so many things that are wrong. We know what is at stake. Individually and collectively, we are going to ensure that we foil the plans of the Congolese and go on to win,” Ambrose declared.

“For us, we don’t want to talk too much but look forward to the match on Saturday (today). We shall do our best. The technical input has been okay, the players are excited to be back together and we are ready to do the country proud. So, there is really nothing to worry about.”

Coach Stephen Keshi

“Please don’t let us talk about the crisis in Nigerian football administra­tion. We need to focus on the game against Congo (Brazzaville) and that’s what we’re doing. The crisis is a distraction and we don’t need that. We shall do our best to win the match on Saturday because that would give us the confidence to go to South Af­rica to face the Bafana Bafana on Tuesday next week”.