Nigeria’s Super Eagles will begin their quest to win the African Nations Championship (Chan) title in South Africa for the very first time when they face Mali on January 11 in Cape Town in their opening preliminary game in the competition.
Shortly after securing qualification for the first time at the expense of the Ivory Coast, hopes were high that the Nigerian side would repeat their success of 2013 when they won the Africa Cup of Nations title in the Rainbow Nation.
High expectations have now been considerably lowered with the departure to European clubs, of several individuals that helped the country qualify for the 2014 Chan.
Juwon Oshaniwa, Gomo Onduku, Godfrey Oboabona and Sunday Mba are no longer eligible for the Chan as is Kano Pillars marksman, Gambo Mohammed who was also excluded from Nigeria’s final 23-man squad for the competition after he failed to recover from a hamstring injury.
Keshi knows losing the core of his side is a potentially fatal blow to Nigeria’s chances of success in the competition and is asking for expectations to be realistic ahead of the Super Eagles’ expedition to South Africa.
“If we (Nigerians) are to be fair in our reasoning and expectations for the Chan, it would be a huge task expecting us to go to South Africa and win the title,” Keshi told supersport.com.
Few expected the Super Eagles to win the 2013 Afcon title with Keshi choosing to leave out some of the more established stars like Obafemi Martins, Dickson Etuhu, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Kalu Uche and Peter Odemwingie from his squad.
His gamble of taking a relatively inexperienced squad, that included six players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPPFL) to South Africa last year did not backfire spectacularly as many expected but will lightening strike twice with expectations again at its lowest ebb?
Keshi, as always, is in bullish mood and despite the obvious constraint he faces, believes any side that underrates his charges may be asking for trouble.
“We are going there (to South Africa) with a positive mindset and the belief that anything is possible.
“We can still go there and win the title. This team is not going to South Africa to make up the number.
“The reality however, is that almost all the players who helped us qualify for this championship have left for European clubs.
“We have been struggling to assemble something close to a team but we will definitely give it our best shot,” he said.
The Super Eagles will begin their preliminary campaign at the 2014 Chan on January 11 against Mali in Cape Town.
They will then face Mozambique in their second game at the tournament on January 15 before rounding off their Group A campaign against hosts, South Africa four days later, also in Cape Town.
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