4th February, 2013
Ivory Coast’s defender Emmanuel Eboue says his side were surprised by the style and determination of the Super Eagles in Sunday’s quarterfinal match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Rustenburg, South Africa.
Tournament favourites Ivory Coast were upset 2-1 by a young Nigerian side at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, and Eboue says his side were left stunned.
“I have to say Nigeria surprised us. The way they played, the way they passed the ball. They defended as a team and did not break their formation. I have to give credit to Stephen Keshi and Daniel Amokachi for the kind of team they have built.”
Eboue, who has been the subject of controversy because of tweets from an impostor, says he wishes the Super Eagles the best.
“I think they are good enough to win it if they play like this and I wish them all the best.”
Ivorian midfielder Max Gradel admitted that Nigeria were the better team after the Elephants were beaten yesterday.
“Congratulations to Nigeria, they were the better team and they deserved to win,” Gradel told KickOffNigeria.com.
“They played very good football. They were very good in this match. I don’t know what went wrong for us, but we could not play our game. I wish the Nigerians well and I hope they win the Cup,” he said.
Meanwhile John Obi Mikel will be $5,000 (about N800,000) richer as he won a bet against his former Chelsea teammate, Salomon Kalou after Nigeria ousted Ivory Coast.
Prior to the game, Mikel and Kalou had entered into an individual bet that their teams hold the bragging rights to win the clash of the heavyweights.
Kalou, now with French Ligue 1 outfit, Lille Metropole, has kept to the bargain of the bet.
“It was a very good game with Nigeria and they truly deserved to win. They started the game very well and scored at the right time. Now I’ve fulfilled my part to him (Mikel),” said 27-year-old Kalou.