Burundi head coach Oliver Niyungeko is confident that his side can compete favourably against three-time African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the other teams in Group B at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, reports Completesports.com.
Les Hirondelles will be making their debut appearance at Africa’s football showpiece event in Egypt after beating Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon to the ticket.
The Burundians can boast of a number of talented players in their ranks, with Stoke City forward, Saido Berahino the most popular name in their national team.
There are also JS Kabilye of Algeria striker Abdul Razak Fiston who finished the qualifiers with seven goals, one adrift Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo and Gael Bigirimana who plays for Scottish club Hibernian.
“As much as we can celebrate, we can’t do it forever. The qualification is now behind our backs and the work has officially began for us. We have to work hard to prepare and work hard to do well in the tournament,” Niyungeko told CAFonline.com.
“My target is to ensure we do our best. We are not here to show weakness or participate. We are here to compete and show that our qualification was no fluke. There are 24 teams and each has equal chance and we are also part of that with an equal chance.
“It is possible to reach any target we set and I believe in my players and that we can work hard and do well in this tournament.
“It is a very tough group because apart from Madagascar; Nigeria and Guinea are teams who have experience playing in this competition. We will do our best, take a match at a time and represent Burundi in the best way we can.”
Burundi’s first ever AFCON finals game will be against Nigeria on June 22 in Alexandria.
The competition will kick-off on 21st June and end on 19th July. It will be staged in four cities; Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Ismaila.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Hmm! Funny man
Nigeria should never underestimate any team in this AFCON. Take them as they come.
That’s right. It would be foolish to underestimate a team that qualified for the Afcon fair and square. The coach said WE CAN COMPETE WELL with the Super Eagles. He hasn’t really said anything out of the ordinary. Even if he will be parading 11 school boys against the Super Eagles, they stand condemned to compete. They must compete with everything they have. That’s the nature of the game. They can not, and will not, lie down and allow us to walk all over them. Just like the antelope will never surrender it’s neck to the Lion’s jaws voluntarily. It can not afford to do that….it must run for it’s life. The dread of facing Nigeria on a football pitch will likely threaten to defeat them even before a ball is kicked….but it can also motivate them to dig deep and achieve the improbable.
Good talk.
When I first saw this picture of the coach I thought it was Yakubu Aigbeni
I said Ol’ boy, this guy don age o.
There are no small teams in African competitions