Coach Stephen Keshi will tomorrow attempt to warm his way back into the hearts of Nigerians when he leads the home Eagles to a 2014 Africa Nations Championship qualifier against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
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Eagle's coach, Keshi[/caption]It is a first leg match and having led the Super Eagles to a poor outing at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil, Keshi is keen to use the game against the Ivorians to assure Nigerians that he is still the man to take Nigerian football to eldorado.
The winner of the two-legged fixture qualify for the CHAN tournament, holding next year in South Africa. Ghana have already booked their passage to the tournament following the withdrawal of the Republic of Benin from this weekend round of matches.
And the Eagles will be hoping to emulate their west African brothers as the other team to qualify for the event, provided they get a huge win in Kaduna to make the return leg in Abidjan on July 27, a mere formality.
Speaking to Sports Vanguard on the team’s preparedness for the game, Keshi said that he was positive that his charges would come good against the Elephants.
“I am positive that we will do well tomorrow against the Ivorians. We should not have problems beating them but I am preparing the team for a tough match because we know the quality of the league in Cote d’Ivoire and expect that they will give us a good run for our money”, team’s spokesman, Ben Alaiya, quoted Keshi to have said.
Continuing, Alaiya said that Keshi expects a bruising battle against the Ivorians, who would be hoping to avenge their team’s defeat in the hands of the Super Eagles at the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
He also said that Keshi was keen to become the first coach to qualify the Eagles for the African Nations Championship, which is strictly designed for players playing professional soccer in Africa. Nigeria are yet to qualify for the competition, which started four years ago.
“As African champions, it is expected that the Eagles will qualify for CHAN. It is my hope and prayer that we will get the ticket and the last push starts tomorrow. We are ready for a tough battle but I strongly believe that we will come out tops over the two legs”, said Keshi.
The likes of Godfrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba, Chiqozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwueke. Chibuzor Okonkwo, Solomon Kwambe Daniel Akpeyi will be leading the Eagles charge for a good home win against the Elephants
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