Clemens Westerhof has told Completesports.com that he does not consider Desert Foxes of Algeria ‘strong enough’ to oust the Super Eagles in the semifinals of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The Dutchman says he’s strongly convinced that the AFCON title is for Nigeria, that Super Eagles have their own fourth continental title ambition in their hands.
The Super Eagles AFCON 1994 title -winning coach spoke exclusively to Completesports.com from his base in the Netherlands ahead Sunday’s AFCON 2019 semifinal confrontation between the Super Eagles and the Desert Foxes of Algeria.
“Super Eagles will win, yes. Algeria to stop Super Eagles? No, they are not strong enough to beat the Super Eagles,” Westerhof boasted.
“When they (Super Eagles) lost to Madagascar, I said it was not the Eagles I knew. I said it was shameful, disgraceful.
“Now they are in top form. With Cameroon out, South Africa gone home too, so it is Super Eagles and the cup. It is in their hands and I don’t see Algeria stopping them.”
He added: “Yes, Super Eagles will win (against Algeria). They will also win the cup. The players are experienced, they are now playing with good mentality.
“It (winning the title) is in their hands. They can win it. Algeria is not a problem.”
Westerhof arrived Nigeria in 1989 and the following year (1990) he steered the Super Eagles to a silver medal finish in Algeria.
At Senegal ’92 AFCON, Westerhof’s Super Eagles finished in third place, setting the tone for the 1994 triumph in Tunisia as well as Nigeria’s debut at FIFA World Cup finals in the USA.
Since he left the the Nigeria job, Westerhof has not hidden or pretended about his love for the nation’s football, particularly the Super Eagles.
The Algeria – Nigeria semifinal match on Sunday at the Cairo International Stadium will kick off at 8pm Nigerian time.
By Sab Osuji