Some Super Eagles players on Monday expressed optimism that the team has good chances of qualifying for the 2017 AFCON tournament in spite of its draw with Tanzania on Saturday.
The Eagles, who are in Port Harcourt to play an international friendly against Niger Republic on Tuesday, expressed their views at a media parley in Port Harcourt.
Goalkeeper Carl Ikeme said though the players were new, they would blend and get good results.
“ As for the Tanzania game, I am delighted to be picked to start it. We defended well and we had two days to stay before the game.
“ This is a work in progress and I am sure we will get it together very quickly, but it will not happen overnight,“ he said.
Team Captain, Ahmed Musa, said the new players in the Super Eagles were being encouraged by the older ones to blend and do the country proud.
He said the team did its best in Tanzania, despite training for only two days.
Musa said “ We have new players in the team and we are encouraging them to do well. Most of the players had their first cap in the national team and we need to ensure that they do well,“ he said.
He said the players are determined to qualify for AFCON 2017 and do the nation proud.
One of the new players, Emem Edouk, former Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt striker, said he was optimistic the Eagles would do well in their remaining matches.
“If I am given the chance to play by the coach, i promise to do my best and assist the team qualify for AFCON 2017,” he said.
Anthony Ujah, Super Eagles striker, said the team tried its best in the match against Tanzania.
“ Though, I could not score in Tanzania, the team tried its best. We understand the expectations of Nigerian from us are high, we will do our best.
“ It was not an easy game. We knew the Tanzanians will come at us, they were very aggressive.”
Ujah said the Super Eagles were new and in the process of building a formidable team.
“ We plead with Nigerians to give us the chance and i believe that in the coming games, we will join hands to bring the nations football to what it used to be“.
