11th June, 2014
Adebobola Alawode
With 24 hours to the kick off of the World Cup in Brazil, Super Eagles talisman, Emmanuel Emenike has described their Group F opponents, Argentina as being disrespectful and boastful stressing that the South Americans will be humiliated when both teams clash on 25 June.
Iran and Bosnia Herzegovina are also in the same group and Emenike, who plies his trade in Turkey with Fenerbache Football Club is of the view that the reigning African champions have what it takes to take their opponents to the cleaners when they clash.
Speaking in an interview with africanfootball.com this morning Emenike declared that the West Africans will rather keep their aces to their chest until when both teams trade tackles.
In the words of the Nigeria’s top marksman: ‘‘They should wait till we meet. The Argentines are too boastful and disrespectful. As a professional, you should always respect your opponents irrespective of their qualities. They think they can beat us because they have individual players? But football is beyond that stage now. As I said earlier, I will think of them after Iran and Bosnia. Messi is an exceptional player, but football is a team game.’’
Commenting on Eagles’ other group foes Emenike opined that there may be a few surprises as every country that qualified for the Mundial is a potential winner.
According to him: ‘‘That’s patriotic talk and I like that, but our own is that we want to fight hard on the pitch and win, this is football, Bosnia can beat Argentina in their opening game too. What I know is that our first match against Iran is very crucial. Right now, I am thinking about Iran, not Bosnia or Argentina.
This World Cup is going to be interesting and full of surprises. There are so many wounded lions going to Brazil.’’
On his preparedness for the challenge at the Mundial the striker said, ‘‘I am very ready for the World Cup. I am physically and mentally ready but the fans should be patriotic enough in any situation. Every player here is ready to give their best to see that we keep the flag flying. We will so much appreciate the fans to count on us.’’
Strikers are known to always set goal target or personal targets but Emenike thinks otherwise. He says he is prepared to ensure that the Eagles perform creditably well in Samba country. ‘‘At a tournament like World Cup, there is always set goal for every team, those that reach the quarterfinal, will hope for semi-final, those who have reached the semis before want to reach the final. We just need to be proactive and be ready to fight and I believe we will achieve the impossible in Brazil.’’