Nigeria’s Super Eagles are settling in Durban for the Wednesday semi-final against the Eagles of Mali. The Super Eagles arrived on Monday for the match to be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and are getting used to the place and its people. The team did not train on Monday following a heavy downpour but seems to be focused according to Coach Stephen Keshi. He said the main task before them is to work hard and win while avoiding distractions.

Speaking after the Sunday defeat to Ivory Coast, Keshi hailed the dogged Super Eagles for the fighting spirit exhibited at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. He said the team has got a lot of possibilities and was optimistic that they will reach the finals. Keshi said it was not easy playing against a star studded team with the likes of Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure but was happy with the outcome. The coach said he was not happy that most Nigerians wrote off the team before the Ivory Coast encounter and urged Nigerians to support the team to the end. He said that he brought in home based players because he believed in their capabilities and has so far not been disappointed. He particularly singled out Sunday Mba who plays for home based Warri Wolves in Delta State for scoring the winning goal. Keshi urged Nigerians to be patient with home based players.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are settling in Durban for the Wednesday semi-final against the Eagles of Mali. The Super Eagles arrived on Monday for the match to be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and are getting used to the place and its people. The team did not train on Monday following a heavy downpour but seems to be focused according to Coach Stephen Keshi. He said the main task before them is to work hard and win while avoiding distractions.

Speaking after the Sunday defeat to Ivory Coast, Keshi hailed the dogged Super Eagles for the fighting spirit exhibited at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. He said the team has got a lot of possibilities and was optimistic that they will reach the finals. Keshi said it was not easy playing against a star studded team with the likes of Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure but was happy with the outcome. The coach said he was not happy that most Nigerians wrote off the team before the Ivory Coast encounter and urged Nigerians to support the team to the end. He said that he brought in home based players because he believed in their capabilities and has so far not been disappointed. He particularly singled out Sunday Mba who plays for home based Warri Wolves in Delta State for scoring the winning goal. Keshi urged Nigerians to be patient with home based players.

In a related development, the security operatives at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg arrested a man who attempted to attack Coach Stephen Keshi after the Eagles secured a Victory over the Elephants of Ivory Coast. The man who was arrested at the entrance to the media centre where the post-match briefing was to be held was wearing a Super Eagles shirt. He said that his mission was to slap Keshi for removing Victor Moses who was needed most towards the end of the game and substituting him with Joseph Yobo.

count | 35

Super Eagles settle in Durban for Wednesday semi Finals against The Eagles of Mali