admin5pm.
Several months ago, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan charged the Super Eagles to reach the Nations Cup final as he wishes to watch them play in Johannesburg to kick off the country’s celebrations of 150 years as a nation.
After a laboured group-phase campaign, the Super Eagles defied the odds last Sunday to beat title favourites Ivory Coast 2-1 and set up an early-evening showdown against the Malian Eagles at Moses Mabhida Stadium in this port city.
Mali also proved popular expectations wrong to edge past hosts South Africa after a penalty shootout.
The countries have clashed at full international level six times with four of those matches at the Nations Cup. Nigeria won three and the others have been drawn.
The last meeting of the Super Eagles and the Eagles was at the 2008 African tournament in Ghana and finished goalless.
Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike insists they have put behind them the shock 2-1 quarter-finals triumph over Ivory Coast and are focused on beating Mali because the target is to be crowned African champions a third time.
“We want to win the trophy and won’t get carried away because we beat the Ivory Coast as we still have two more games to win before we can be crowned champions,” said the Spartak Moscow striker, who has netted three times.
Young Nigerian defender Kenneth Omeruo said he does not expect an easy game against Mali, who have been in Durban for more than a week and will be better rested as they played their quarter-final a day before the Super Eagles.
“It will be a tough game, but we hope to come out victorious. We are focused on it and I believe we will zoom into the final,” Omeruo said.
Striker Brown Ideye added: “If we can play the way we did against Ivory Coast, Mali can’t stop us. It will be a different game and we won’t underrate them.”
Former Barcelona star Seydou Keita remains the Mali talisman, as he was last year when they finished third in Gabon behind Zambia and Ivory Coast.
The 33-year-old midfielder has scored twice to keep Mali on track for a first Nations Cup triumph after finishing runners-up to Congo Brazzaville 41 years ago in Yaounde.
Mali coach Patrice Carteron has consistently maintained he wishes to improve on what compatriot Alain Giresse achieved with the team last year and this means at least reaching the final.
“The target for us has been to improve on what the team achieved last year and so far we are on course to doing so,” said the former Lyon “hard man”.
Mali captain Keita, meanwhile, hit back at those who say his side will face an uphill battle against Nigeria today because the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has a good knowledge of the team having managed it for two years.
The former Barcelona midfielder said the outfit had changed since the Nigerian coach left in the wake of their debacle at the Angola 2010, and may have lost all the secrets of the team.
“People keep saying that Nigeria will beat us on Wednesday (today) because their coach Stephen Keshi knows the in and out of Mali team having coached us in the past, but that is not true,” Keita said.
“We’ve had three coaches after Keshi’s departure and that should tell you a lot of transformation has taken place. Keshi, with all the respect I have for him, will meet a different team on Wednesday and not what he left behind.
“So tell him we have changed.”
The Malian Eagles finished third in the previous Afcon edition under French coach Alain Giresse, and brought their peculiarity of knocking out host nations to the ongoing tournament where they defeated South Africa on penalties like they did to Gabon last year.
The 33-year-old, who now plays for Chinese side Dalian Aerbin,believes they could have an edge if today’s clash runs into penalties.
“I’m not saying we are the best penalty shooters, but we kind of have some luck in the exercise recently and we hope this will follow us, especially at these times when our people back home need joy and relief from the ongoing war,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nigeria striker Emenike has scored three goals at the 2013 African Cup of Nations, but maintains he is still far from his best.
“My best is yet to be seen. This is just the beginning,” he said.
“Some years ago, I never thought I would be wearing this jersey, but today I am happy with what I am doing in the national team.
“I am proud of my achievements so far, my family is proud and all my fans at home and abroad are very proud of me.
“But I would like to say again and again that my best is yet to be seen. I have a lot to give Nigeria. I want to break records.”
He added: “I will always do my best to get the goals whenever I am in a position to do so.
“My goals are possible because I get assistance from my teammates. I appreciate everybody’s efforts to make it happen. Together, we will make Nigerians happy.”
The big Spartak Moscow striker has been tipped by Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi as a successor to the country’s most profilic scorer, the late Rashidi Yekini.
Yekini scored 37 goals in a 15-year international career, while Emenike is on four goals since making his debut against Sierra Leone in Lagos two years ago.
Former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia, who first capped Emenike, said the powerful striker is bound for greatness.
“I know his qualities as a striker and that was why I went ahead to cap him.
“I am very happy with his performances at the Nations Cup,” remarked Siasia.
“I love his commitment. He is using his strength and speed well, he is a complete striker, getting the goals and creating chances for others to score.
“He also has all it takes to be among the best strikers in the world – he will certanly go places.”
Emenike (25) has proved to be a lethal force at his various clubs from FC Cape Town in South Africa to Karakbukspor in Turkey.
He has a strong physical presence and his all-action style has troubled opposing defences, including those at the Nations Cup in South Africa.
His target at his first Africa Cup is to take Nigeria to their third title, and first since since defeating Zambia in 1994 in Tunisia.
“We cannot wait to make Nigeria proud, but we are not getting carried away by this victory (over Ivory Coast),” he declared.
“The only way to answer the critics is to keep winning. We are here to make Nigeria proud. We are here to lift the trophy.” — AFP.
Online Reporter