Ike Shorunmu, a former Nigeria goalkeeper, has exclusively told Completesports.com that players’ commitment was the reason the Super Eagles have posted a 100% record in the group stage of the ongoing AFCON 2021 and should forge ahead with it.
Austine Eguavoen’s Super Eagles downed their three Group D opponents; Egypt (1-0), Sudan (3-1) and Guinea Bissau (2-0) to reach the tournament’s knockout stage.
With the tournament now at its knockout stage, and the Super Eagles looking to go one step further by defeating the Cathage Eagles of Tunisia in their Round of 16 clash in Garoua on Sunday January 23, Shorunmu evaluates the team’s performances in the group phase of Africa’s flagship football tournament and postis that commitment on the part of the players was a significant factor, hence their roller coaster cruise so far in the tournament.
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“I think the commitment of the players was the key factor”, the former 3SC and Beskitas of Turkey goalkeeper, and onetime Super Eagles goalkeepers trainer told Completesports.com.
“The players worked for each other. The should continue like that,” Shorunmu submitted.
Eguavoen agrees with Shorunmu as suggested by a Tweet on his personal Twitter handle on Thursday.
“I pledge to Nigeria my Country!! Thank you Nigerians for your support and special thanks to my players & colleagues for their 100% commitment #TotalEnergiesAfcon2021 #TeamNigeria,” he tweeted.
Eguavoen, as Super Eagles head coach, had performed similar 100 per feat in the AFCON group stage at the 2006 edition in Egypt.
Just like at Cameroon 2021, the Super Eagles were drawn in the Group D at Egypt 2006. And Eguavoen’s team beat Ghana 1-0, downed Zimbabwe 2-0, and pipped Senegal 2-1 to win the group with the maximum nine points.
Remarkly, Eguavoen’s Super Eagles are up against the Cathage Eagles of Tunisia again – the same opponent they faced in the Quarterfinals in 2006, immediately after the group phase. Nigeria won 6-5 on penalties after it ended 1-1 inside 120 minutes.
Eagles eventually bagged the bronze medal at Egypt 2006 AFCON with a 1-0 win against Senegal after losing 0-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in the semifinals.
5 Comments
History repeating itself. I remember that Nigeria lost to Cote d’ivoire in a controversial circumstance. Drogba scored a goal that would have been ruled offside by VAR today. Eguavoen’s team were unlucky in that match even though they had Drogba, Toure and many other star in great form.
In my opinion, the present team is far better than the 2006 team and I hope they will also be much luckier too.
History repeating itself. I remember that Nigeria lost to Cote d’ivoire in a controversial circumstance. Drogba scored a goal that would have been ruled offside by VAR today. Eguavoen’s team were unlucky in that match even though they had Drogba, Toure and many other stars in great form.
In my opinion, the present team is far better than the 2006 team and I hope they will also be much luckier too.
Interesting….in both 2006 and 2021 editions, we won our first game 1-0, conceded only one goal in the three group matches, won a match 2-0 and one match ended in both team scored…then, we faced Tunisia in our forth game and we are facing them again
Drogba’s goal in 2006 Afcon was perfectly legit. It would have stood the scrutiny of VAR. In fact he reprised the same trick in the 2013 Afcon which was wrongly adjudged offside.
that drogbas goal in 2006 na typical offside goal pls go wacth am again for youtube