2nd December, 2013
Less than five days before the 2014 World Cup draws take place in Brazil, coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has reaffirmed that the current African champions are ready to play any team at the mundial.
Nigeria and 31 other participating nations will on Friday in the Brazilian state of Bahia find out who their group opponents will be when the draws for next summer’s tournament takes place.
Speaking ahead of the highly-anticipated event, Keshi opined that Nigerians need not worry who his Eagles would be drawn against, rather they should continue to support and pray for the team to do well at the championship.
He said: “There is no more small team in the World Cup. Whether we are drawn against lowly rated teams, Nigerians will always worry. What I expect from them is to support the team and pray for us to do well in Brazil. We are not afraid of any team we are drawn against. It is going to be our 11-man team against their 11 players.”
Keshi, however, ruled out immediate call up for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup star, Kelechi Iheanacho, to the national team.
“Iheanacho is a very good player but he has only played at the junior team. He has no team at the moment and he is yet to play at a big league. We will see how he continues to develop but I don’t think he will get a chance to prove himself at the top level before the World Cup in the summer,” Keshi stated.
—Bamidele Olowosagba