Eagles Were Super Against Cameroon; Can Win AFCON 2019

Former Nigeria coach, Dutchman Clemens Westerhof, says the Super Eagles have convinced him they possess the quality needed to fight and win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Completesports.com reports.

Westerhof, who earlier labelled the team’s 2-0 defeat to the Barea of Madagascar in their last Group B match as ‘Shameful’, could not hide his excitement Monday while speaking to Completesports.com on phone from his the Netherlands base, saying the Gernot Rohr’s men made him proud with an impressive performance in the 3-2 thumping of the Indomitable Lions in a Round of 16 match Saturday in Alexandria.

“Yes, I watched the match. I’ve watched all the the Super Eagles’ games. And I’m proud of the players after the game against Cameroon,” Westerhof told Completesports.com in a very pleasant tone.

“They have convinced me they can win the cup, yes. If they continue this way, semifinal, final and the cup is in Nigeria.”

Asked to give reasons for his shrewd optimism, Westerhof explains that, against Cameroon, he saw a Super Eagles team that exhibited the true mentality that Nigerian national team is known for.

“On Saturday, yes, the mentality was good. The spirit was good and if they continue that way in the remaining games, they will win the cup.”

Super Eagles will on Wednesday in Cairo confront the Bafana Bafana in one of the quarterfinal games.

It will be Nigeria’s 14th clash against South Africa since 1992 and a winner will bag a semifinal spot.

South Africa pulled the chestnut from the fire with a Shock defeat of the AFCON 2019 hosts, Pharaoh’s of Egypt on Sunday to set up a quarterfinal confrontation against Nigeria.

Westerhof reasons that at this point, South Africa will not stop the Super Eagles if the Gernot Rohr’s men replicate the performance they put up against Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

“South Africa was good against Egypt, but against Super Eagles, no.
Super Eagles, with good players, experience, good spirit and great mentality fwill win,” Westerhof stated.

Sab Osuji
(pix: by Ganiyu Yusuf in Alexandria)