adminIshemunyoro Chingwere in Bloemfontein, South Africa
NIGERIA coach Stephen Keshi has backed the Warriors to beat Libya in the first semi-final of the Chan tournament when the two sides clash at the Free State Stadium this evening. The Warriors have defied the odds here by storming out of the group stages for the first time in a continental football tournament before icing the cake with a clinical 2-1 over fancied Mali in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Ian Gorowa and his men have charmed a number of neutrals on their way to the semis and the latest addition is the high-riding Keshi, the coach who guided Nigeria to the Nations Cup title here last year.
Keshi told our Correspondent, at the modest President Hotel where the West Africans are booked together with the Warriors, that he had been impressed by the Warriors’ showing and is convinced if they play the basics right, they are as good as in the final.
“Ian (Gorowa) is a very good football brother of mine, so when you played Mali I was praying that, ‘Oh God please help my brother.’
“I have been watching Ian’s progress with Zimbabwe with keen interest and I am sure he has convinced all and sundry with that win over Mali.
“They have been doing very well and should make light work of Libya from what I have been assessing and by God’s grace I hope to meet my brother Ian in the final.
“You (Warriors), despite your somewhat small frames, are a very physical side that fights hard and the passing and movement is just the best at this tournament so far.
“But if you (Warriors) allow them to play they will obviously punish you because they are very fast in attack and are very precise in front of goal,” said the coach who has also taken charge of Togo and Mali.
Keshi, whose Super Eagles rose from the ashes to knock out Morocco in the quarter-finals after trailing by 0-3 at half time, said he was aware the Warriors have done more than what was expected of them.
“But in football you can’t stop dreaming, you need to continue aiming higher and higher,” said Keshi.
Online Reporter