The Super Eagles defender Azubike Egwekwe and forward Ejike Uzoenyi are positive that the Super Eagles have what it takes to win the World Cup trophy in Brazil.
Both played important parts in the African Nations Championship bronze-winning campaign last January as well as bit parts in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations victory run and have been included in the provisional list of 30 by Coach Stephen Keshi.
“I don’t know why some people don’t want to believe in this team. That is how they did not believe in us before we went to the Africa Cup of Nations and we surprised them by winning the Trophy in South Africa last year,” Uzoenyi said.
“I can tell you with full optimism and confidence that we have the wherewithal to win the World Cup.
“The only thing we need is the full support of soccer loving Nigerians and we as players will go all out to put everything we have got to ensure we come back with the trophy.
“We may look like the underdogs in our group as well as in the competition. That will even give us the edge to surprise everybody,” the diminutive attacker who was named best player at CHAN 2014 disclosed.
Lanky defender Egwuekwe also sounded very confident of his team’s ability to weather the storm in Brazil and bring the World Cup title home to Nigeria on July 13.
“The title is open to all the 32 teams that qualified for this competition including the Super Eagles of Nigeria. But I can tell you that with full confidence that we will get to the semi-final of this competition,” Egwukwe said.
“I sincerely believe that if we get to the last four stages, then to win the trophy will not be very difficult for us. So I believe we can win the World Cup right there in Brazil,” the Warri Wolves captain said.
He also solicited for support from all and sundry to make the dream come true. “This is a Nigeria project, not for the coaches and the players alone. So I am using this medium to solicit for support and prayers from all football loving Nigerians so that we can achieve our ambition of coming back home with the trophy,” he pleaded.
Nigeria will play in Group F alongside Argentina, Iran and debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina. They will open their campaign against Iran in Curitiba on June 16.
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