By Femi Solaja
Super
Eagles strongman, Kenneth Omeruo, has assured Nigerian football fans
that the priceless World Cup trophy is within the reach of the team
should Nigeria starts the campaign against Croatia on a positive note.
The Kasimpasa
FC of Turkey defender spoke to THISDAY yesterday in Lagos at the final
of a grassroots football match between Turf Season FC and Current FC
sponsored by Domino’s Pizza at the Yaba College of Technology Sports
Centre.
Omeruo assured Nigerian football fans that Super Eagles have come of age and can be counted among real contenders.
According
to him, “everywhere you go, people talk about Messi, Modric, Aguero and
Rakitic but nobody is talking of the components that made the present
crops of Super Eagles players the first team from Africa to pick group
ticket to Russia 2018 World Cup. “I think it is a huge advantage for us
to be underrated but we are a determined side to give our best at the
World Cup. Nigeria will hug global limelight after the qualifying group
stage matches and all through to the last phase of the tournament in
Russia,” Omeruo assured supporters of the Super Eagles.
In
his pre-tournament assessment, the Chelsea FC player on loan in Turkey
agreed that the most important match for the Super Eagles remains the
opening tie against Croatia rather than the focus been placed on
Argentina.
“The
moment we get the results in our first two matches with Croatia and
Iceland, we will be going into the final group match against Argentina
with lots of confidence and perhaps repeat the last result we secured
against them in the friendly late last year in Russia.
“You
will recall that we had already qualify for the World Cup at the time
we faced them in that friendly in Russia and was not under any pressure.
The moment we pick maximum points in the opening two games, this will
spur us to greater heights,” observed the AFCON 2013 winner.
He
maintained that the brilliant performance of the Super Eagles in their
debut tournament at USA ’94 has ensured that no nation can afford to
regard Nigeria as mere participant with no ambition to win the World
Cup.
”
I want to say that other generations of Super Eagles have continued to
look up to the solid foundation laid by the 1994 generation which has
taken us away from been mere participant but real contender for the
trophy,” he noted.
The
defender, who hopes to return to England next season from Turkey
commended the technical crew for the harmony that has existed in the
team in the last few years.
“There
is no rivalry in the team rather all the invited players hope to give
the technical crew heavy task in the final selection of 23-man team to
the World Cup. There is nothing like battle here, everybody is thinking
of the best for the team,” he concluded.
Omeruo
was part of Stephen Keshi’s team to the last World Cup finals in Brazil
where he paired Joseph Yobo in the heart of the defence.
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