Home-based Super Eagles captain Ikechukwu Ezenwa says the team is ‘100% ready’ for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) which starts in Morocco this weekend.
In an exclusive chat with www.busybuddiesng.com shortly before the team departed Nigeria for Morocco on Monday night, the Enyimba shot-stopper said the team is aware of the importance of the competition to Nigerians and promised to put up a good show in the North African country.
“I think we are 100% ready because we know the importance of this competition we are going for,” the Enyimba goalkeeper said.
“We also know the importance of representing 180 Million Nigerians.
“We are set for the tournament despite the preparations and every other thing; I think we had a good preparation and it is going to play a very big role in Morocco.”
Ahead of the CHAN, confidence level is high in the camp of the team and the 29-year old Super Eagles goalkeeper has attributed the optimism to God, team spirit and the team’s preparedness.
“First of all, we believe in God almighty, and as the captain of the team, there’s one special thing in this team; the solidarity, the love; I think is going to take us to a very long way in the competition,” the former FC IfeanyiUbah and Heartland keeper revealed.
“Though we didn’t have an international friendly, but I think the WAFU Cup was a big preparation for us and also the Super 6 (NPFL Invitational).
“I think that is the most important thing. It has given us a lot of confidence in the team because I know that winning a trophy in Kano before the final preparation in Abuja has played a very big role in the team because every player in camp knows that we are champions. And I think it is going to give us that motivation to make sure we do well in Morocco,” he said.
Nigeria will open her campaign at the tournament with a game against Rwanda in Tangier on 15 January before facing 2014 champions, Libya (19 January) and Equatorial Guinea (23 January) in Group C of the CHAN.
The home-based Eagles finished third in their debut appearance at the competition in 2014 before failing to reach the second round two years ago in Rwanda.
