We’re not afraid of Spain – Super Eagles
Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi, stand-in
captain Vincent Enyeama and defender Elderson Echiejile insist the
Super Eagles have not given up hope of reaching the Confederations Cup
semifinals.
Diego Forlan’s strike brought to an
end Keshi’s long 18-match unbeaten run in competitive games after the
former Manchester United forward got the winner as Uruguay beat Nigeria
2-1 in their Confederations Cup Group B game in Salvador, Brazil on
Thursday.
Uruguay and Nigeria are tied on three
points in the group but the South American champions are expected to
beat underdogs Tahiti on Sunday while the Eagles need to defeat group
leaders Spain the same day to progress in the tournament.
If Nigeria fail to end Spain’s 24-match
unbeaten run in international competitions, they will be sent packing
from Brazil on Monday. La Roja, who routed Tahiti 10-0 earlier on
Thursday, only need a point to reach the last four.
But Keshi said Spain are beatable despite the European and world champions’ brilliant array of stars.
“As for Spain, we can’t wait to play
them. Anything can happen. That’s what makes this such a great game,”
Keshi told reporters in Salvador.
“Everything is achievable,” he said. “It depends how bad you want it.”
Sporting Braga’s Echiejile said the team will go all out for victory against Spain.
“Despite the loss to Uruguay, we remain
upbeat going into the game against Spain. We will go all out and fight,”
the 2013 Portuguese Cup winner, who has a goal to his name in the
tournament, wrote on his Twitter page on Friday.
Goalkeeper Enyeama said the Eagles are not frightened by Spanish superstars, saying the Eagles are ready for the challenge.
“We don’t have to beat Spain convincingly, we just have to beat them,” Goal quoted the 30-year-old, who won the Israeli Premier League with Maccabi Tel Aviv last season, as saying on Friday.
“ That’s the most important thing. You never know what will happen (to Uruguay) against Tahiti.
“I really respect Spain, they have
amazing players. Iniesta is magical for them and then you have Xavi. You
like to play against these guys because you love watching these guys
too.
“But it’s possible to win, because this
is football. It will be a great experience for us. We can show our
quality and we want to learn.”
