Former Nigerian captain and forward, Segun Odegbami, has said there will not be any acceptable excuse for us not to be at the upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroun.
Super Eagles will kick-off their qualification campaign for the biennial football championship against known foes, Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Odegbami said South Africa or any other African country should not be a force to stop us from participating at the arena of the best footballing nations in the continent.
“It’s abnormal and totally unacceptable that one of the richest countries in the continent in term of natural talents should not be at any Africa Cup of Nations.And that we have not been at the championship in the past two editions is absolutely unacceptable and no excuse that we all should cover our faces in shame.
“Well, opportunity offers itself to us on Saturday to remember who we really are in the round leather game.South Africa cannot stop us from qualifying for the next 2019 Africa Cup of Nation in Cameroun. In fact, no country in Africa should dare stop us particularly now we have more participants in the championship than the initial eight.
“Right now we parade the largest number of Europe-based players, young and talented than any other African countries.I see the Afcon clash on Saturday as a time for us to rebuild, regroup and recollect who we really are in football.It has been encouraging since the new manager, Gernot Rohr took over the reign of the senior national team.We will be witnesses to good and inspiring football on Saturday against South Africa that make us smile at the end of proceeding,” said Odegbami.
Nigeria’s other Group E opponents are the North African side, Libya and Seychelles. The group’s winner are guaranteed automatic slot for the 2019 Afcon in Cameroun.
