Afcon Title Rejuvinated Nigeria
Former Nigerian assistant coach, Fatai Amoo has described the Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations title-winning feat as the most outstanding moment in football in the year 2013.
The Eagles edged West African foes, the Stallions of Burkina Faso to clinch a third African title in South Africa.
Amoo said Nigeria recorded other landmarks in the round leather game in 2013 but fingered the Afcon title to be the greatest more so as it came when the odds were 100% against the country.
"We recorded outstanding moments in football in 2013 but the biggest one is the Afcon title we won in South Africa after 19 years of anxious wait.
"The victory at the Nations Cup came against all odds, nobody saw it coming as we even surprised ourselves to clinch the title.
"The Super Eagles qualification for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil is another great moment notwithstanding the quality of opposition we stopped to qualify.
"The Golden Eaglets' victory at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a great moment in 2013.
"The women's national teams, too, have their own share of great moments for the country in 2013 but the Afcon title in South Africa will always stand out as indelible in the year 2013," said the former Sunshine Stars coach to supersport.
com.
The former Nigerian star however gave the domestic Super Eagles an average chance to succeed at the third edition of the African Nations Championship (Chan) in South Africa.
"I won't foreclose the chances of the domestic Eagles pulling surprises at the African Nations Championship in South Africa but professionally it will be really tough to grab the title given the number of key players that pulled out from the championship.
"Sunday Mba is a big fish in the set up for the Chan competition, his impact is more than ordinary and he'll be sorely missed at the championship.
"Godfrey Oboabona will be missed, too though their absence will afford others opportunity to shine.
"South Africa is giving the Chan competition and Nigeria more than passing attention even though we're just making our debut.
"Though we're underdogs in the last Afcon competition but our success has made us the team to beat as every other opponents coming our way will over prepare for us.
"But the continuity in the coaching crew is a huge plus which will surely work wonders if handled with care but I foresee tougher challenge for the Eagles at the Chan competition," said the former Julius Berger coach.
The Chan football fiesta runs from January 11 to February 1 in South Africa and the nation's campaigners will fight for Group A tickets with hosts, South Africa, Mali and Mozambique.
REUTERS