Super Eagles defender and captain, William Troost-Ekong has commended Austine Eguavoen for the brilliant job he has done with the team at the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Recall that the three-time AFCON champions will face Tunisia in the Round of 16 on Sunday for a place in the quarter-final.
However, Ekong, in a chat with NFF TV, stated that the interim coach has made the players work very hard within the short period of time he took over the team.
He also said that being tagged as an underdog prior to the tournament has really helped the team raise the standard of their game.
The AFCON has been exciting and I have spent a lot of time watching the games. I think I am very proud of our team and how we have started,” the Watford defender told NFF TV.
“Before we came here there were question marks on the players that we took because many of us don’t have so much experience. And some players are unavailable at the last minute. So I think the boys have done a great job. And the coaches have a fantastic job as well. He really made us work like a team.
“One thing that is to our advantage is that we started as an underdog at the tournament.
In the same vein, Super Eagles defender, Semi Ajayi has warned the team to be humble and remain focused.
He believed that with the potentials in that team, they are capable of reaching the final in Cameroon.
“I 100% believe in the guys that we have in the squad. We have an abundant of talents and the potentials to go all the way to the final. But it is not by talking, we need to stay focus and not get carried away.
“We must stay humble and work hard. Hopefully, we can achieve our potentials. This is AFCON, anybody can beat anyone. We just have to remain focus and take each game seriously.”
Also, Super Eagles defender, Ola Aina has expressed his desire to win a trophy with the team at the tournament.
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He however, said that the players will toll the path of the coach, where he advises them to take each game as they come.
“This is a dream. I would love to win something with Nigeria. I am sure everybody else in the team feels this way. But like the coach said, we have to take each game by game.
More so, Super Eagles midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali has urged the players to enjoy every moment of the game amid the covid-19 pandemic affecting the game of football globally.
“In as much as we are trying yo entertain everybody, we must also not fall victim of the situation in the world. Even in clubsides , a lot of them don’t allow fans into the stadium due to covid-19. So we have to enjoy the moments and take it the way it is.”
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COMMENTS
It’s all positive for yourselves and your coach, go for gold SE. God bless Nigerians.
Did we really need dennis in this tournament. Now he is busy playing crap for watford, on top of it getting a red card
Don’t be too hasty to dicard a player. This was how a lot of people condemned Iheanacho now he’s one of our best performers at the on going afcon
Dennis will definitely come back better. He’s probably angry with watford for not letting him play at the afcon
Dennis will come back stronger and together with Samuel Kalu Watford will be hard to play against. I hope Kalu stays fit. Kalu was more deadly than Simon at a certain period he will be back again. Rohr frustrated him at the end of his tenure as coach.
Kalu’s problem seems to be his health.
A healthy and in-form Kalu is just as good as Simon. Recall the wonder goal he scored against Benin in the Afcon qualifers? One of the best goals you will ever see anywhere.
Let’s hope his health is ok.
Rohr frustrated Kalu? Why are so pathetic an terrible? Why don’t you allow the poor man to rest even after your wish as been accomplished? Everyone because of this Kalu, Simon, Iheanacho,Okoye etc this man was called several names. What could he have done for Kalu to made the team rubbish.
I don’t want to seem arrogant or overconfident but SE will beat Tunisia on Sunday and I am so sure about it as these are my reasons
1) SE is the only team in the Afcon that has not conceded a goal from open play while Tunisia has conceded 2 goals from open play.
2) SE has scored against all it’s opponents so far in the Afcon while Tunisia has scored against only one opponent which is poor Mauritius.
3) SE is playing on its home turf in Garouha because they have played all their games there and the home fans are behind them unlike Tunisia.
4) SE has scored first in all the matches they have played so far and Tunisia has not conceded first and won the same game in this Afcon so far.
5) SE plays the best Brand of football in the Afcon with a very devastating counter attack while Tunisia plays possessive football that in very vonulrable to counter attacks.
6) SE has the compliment of their full squad while Tunisia has alot of absentees for the game due to Corona virus.
7) SE has beaten a North African team already in this Afcon while Tunisia has been beaten by 2 west African countries already in this Afcon.
You see it will take a very big miracle for Tunisia to spring an upset on Sunday except SE experience a very drastic and unexplainable lose of form within this few days to the match……… Tunisia does not stand a chance against SE and you can take my word to the bank.