Nigeria midfielder, John Obi Mikel, believes the Super Eagles have a chance of beating tournament favourites, Cote D’Ivoire, in Sunday’s quarter final match of the African Cup of Nations.
The Chelsea midfielder, who admitted that the West African country can boast of tested legs, however, remarked that the two teams have equal chance of progressing.
Mikel said: “Now we’re in the quarter finals, we just have to keep going and do what we do in training and hopefully we will defeat Ivory Coast and go to the semi finals.
“It’s going to be difficult but hopefully we’ll make it.
“We’ve come out here to do exactly what he wants us to do and to play for Nigeria as well.
“I think it is fantastic, we’re enjoying it.”
The Chelsea midfielder rated the game against the Ethiopians highly but that they knew what they were up against while preparing for the encounter.
He added: “I think it was really tough.
“We knew they were coming into the game looking to win it as well.
“We knew they were going to be organised in the middle so we tried to make sure we didn’t play through the middle.
“They didn’t give me any space to play as well.
“Throughout the game I had one or two people running behind me.
“It was tough but sometimes I tried to get my space.
“It was difficult for both teams but this is what you demand (of yourself) when you come to a stage like this when you have to win to qualify.”
The Super Eagles will next take on the Elephants in a big West African duel in Sunday’s quarter final encounter in Rustenburg.
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