Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has heaped plaudits on Burundi players for their battling display in Saturday’s Group B clash at the Alexandria Stadium, reports Completesports.com.
Nigeria won the highly competitive encounter 1-0 courtesy of Odion Ighalo’s 77th minute strike.
Olivier Niyungeko’s men produced an inspiring performance against the Super Eagles in what was their first ever Africa Cup of Nations match.
Having qualified for the continental showpiece without a single defeat from a group which had the likes of Mali and Gabon, the Swallows truly proved in the game that their feat in the qualifiers wasn’t a fluke.
“Yeah, it’s not an easy group, it’s a very tough group,” Mikel told reporters after the game.
“You can see from today – they [Burundi] are a very organized team, very tough to break down. We were lucky to get the goal.
“I think we played well. We had most of the ball, but we couldn’t break them down – we couldn’t get the goal. So it was very crucial for us to get these three points today.”
Mikel hopes the Super Eagles can win their game against the Syli Nationale of Guinea which will ultimately ensure their qualification into the Round of 16.
“We need to try again to win the next game. We need to try also to win the second game and hopefully qualify from this group as quickly as possible – and then look forward to the next stage,” the 32-year-old midfielder added.
Gernot Rohr’s men who top the Group B standings with three points will take on Guinea in their next game on Wednesday at the Alexandria Stadium.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Yes it was tough and totally different from what people expected. They were only looking at names or their ranking not minding their exploit. When a team top a group contxaining Mali and Gabon in a qualifier such a team to not be taking lightly as some people were insinuating that ordinary Burundi. Anyway congrats skippo but try to up your game in next match don’t mind the jeer from Nigerian fans in the last match, u can dot it cos u av done it before. goodluck
You’ve said it all Tayo, thanks.
Nice one Tayo, u r a true football fan that knows what football is all about, nice one Mikel, but u can do better in the next game, u don’t have anything to prove to anybody, u r a star footballer anytime anyday
Burundi will progress to the knockout stage…..they r that good and who knows dey might spring a surprise and that’s when we ll realise dat our players did well against them……as for us, we can only get better! Am just happy for chukwueze and the chemistry amongst d players,, they kept possession like a European team yesterday
Please bros mikel you need to sit down at the 4,don’t be playing 10 when you can’t because those days are gone