Two members of the Super Eagles squad preparing for the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) in South Africa, Benjamin Francis and Solomon Kwambe have both expressed confidence in the chances of Nigeria at the tournament.
The two players have been mainstays in coach Stephen Keshi’s squad alongside midfielder, Sunday Mba who are expected to lead by example with the introduction of several faces.
The introduction of new players in the Nigeria squad for the Chan has been enforced with several key members of the squad like Godfrey Oboabona, Gomo Onduku, Gabriel Rueben and Juwon Oshaniwa sealing moves to European clubs which automatically rule them out of the competition.
With the new additions coming thick and fast with less than a month to the commencement of the Chan, Francis does not feel the team’s chances of success will be hampered too much by recent developments.
“We are going to miss the players who have left to join foreign clubs but we must understand that they moved on because they were thinking of their future. However, their absence does not mean we will not do well in South Africa,” Francis, who plays for Heartland FC, told supersport.com.
Kwambe, who is on the books of another Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Sunshine Stars echoed the sentiments of Francis as he believes Keshi has drafted in capable replacements for the departed stars.
“The team will not collapse because some important players have joined European clubs.
“We have been working very hard and the “Big Boss” (Keshi) has promised that he will improve the squad with new players. We must trust his judgment,” he said.
The Super Eagles will begin their preliminary campaign at the 2014 Chan on January 14 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.
