Eagles, Bafana Clash Again -Agbim Targets CHAN 2014 Glory One of the highlights of the draw for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) was that Nigeria emerged in the same group with host nation, South Africa, who have become a ‘familiar customer’ to the Eagles. Joining Nigeria alongside South Africa in Group A are Mali and Mozambique, but observers are of a view that the real match to watch here would be between Bafana Bafana and the home-based Eagles. Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi immediately expressed some reservation about the prospect of playing against South Africa in the championship. However, though The Big Boss said he would have wanted to avoid the hosts, he added that there was no problem, as the team was ready for any opposition. He said the draw was okay but the Eagles have to take all the matches very serious, pointing out that all the four teams are good and any of them can make it to the next round. “I thought we should have avoided host South Africa but as it has turned out like that, we have no choice than to play them. But it is not always easy to play against host countries,” Keshi said after the draw. In spite of Keshi’s sentiments however, South Africa have never really posed so much problems to Nigeria. The last time both sides met in the invitational Mandela Challenge at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, the Super Eagles won 2-0. Home-based Eagles goalkeeper and captain, Chigozie Agbim will now be looking to take that history into the CHAN 2014 showpiece when the competition gets underway on January 11, 2014. “It is true that we are taking part for the first time, but there is always a first time for tournaments. This is a competition we are looking forward to playing in and I believe we will do our best and do the nation proud. “Right now Super Eagles are on a high and it is only natural to expect that those based at home will seek to keep that level of achievement,” says Agbim. He, however, stopped short of making any promises, saying: “I don’t want to stick my neck out that Nigeria will win the championship, but I can promise that we will give it our best shot to make sure we are still there at the end. Whether we are drawn against the hosts is not a big deal; we are ready for any opposition.”
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 15:46:09 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015