Chukwu thrilled Nigeria are not favourites
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Chukwu thrilled Nigeria are not favourites
Chukwu thrilled Nigeria are not favourites
January 24, 2004
AFP - Jan 24, 8:34 am EST
MONASTIR, Tunisia (AFP) - Coach Christian Chukwu said he is excited that Nigeria's Super Eagles are not one of the top favourites at the African Nations Cup as this will take the pressure off his team.
"It is very good that we are not one of the teams popularly tipped to win the cup. That way we are relaxed and we will come out to play our normal game," Chukwu told AFP at the team's Kuriat Palace Hotel in Monastir, which he praised as "very conducive" for the Eagles ahead their first Group D tie Tuesday against Morocco.
Nigeria and Morocco have clashed four times at this tournament in the past with the Eagles losing the first two encounters and then winning their last two clashes including a convincing 2-0 victory four years ago in Lagos.
Chukwu added he is not worried about Morocco as he prepares his team to win their opening group match.
"I expect Morocco to play the typical north African game but we are not worrying about them and so we have not made any special preparation for them," he said.
"Rather we are focusing on our own game. If they wish they can worry about us. Our target is to bring the cup back home."
Nigeria's build-up to the Nations Cup has been heavily criticised back home after several top foreign-based players stayed away due to club engagements but Chukwu said he is hopeful his team have done enough to perform as well as they did 10 years ago in the same Tunisia when they won their second Nations Cup.
"Our last friendly against Cologne really brought out the best in us. It was a very physical game and we fought back to win against a very decent side," he said.
Nigeria won 3-2 with a brace from midfielder Garba Lawal to round up their month-long training stint in Faro, Portugal.
Coach Christian Chukwu said he is excited that Nigeria's Super Eagles are not one of the top favourites at the African Nations Cup as this will take the pressure off his team.
January 24, 2004
AFP - Jan 24, 8:34 am EST
MONASTIR, Tunisia (AFP) - Coach Christian Chukwu said he is excited that Nigeria's Super Eagles are not one of the top favourites at the African Nations Cup as this will take the pressure off his team.
"It is very good that we are not one of the teams popularly tipped to win the cup. That way we are relaxed and we will come out to play our normal game," Chukwu told AFP at the team's Kuriat Palace Hotel in Monastir, which he praised as "very conducive" for the Eagles ahead their first Group D tie Tuesday against Morocco.
Nigeria and Morocco have clashed four times at this tournament in the past with the Eagles losing the first two encounters and then winning their last two clashes including a convincing 2-0 victory four years ago in Lagos.
Chukwu added he is not worried about Morocco as he prepares his team to win their opening group match.
"I expect Morocco to play the typical north African game but we are not worrying about them and so we have not made any special preparation for them," he said.
"Rather we are focusing on our own game. If they wish they can worry about us. Our target is to bring the cup back home."
Nigeria's build-up to the Nations Cup has been heavily criticised back home after several top foreign-based players stayed away due to club engagements but Chukwu said he is hopeful his team have done enough to perform as well as they did 10 years ago in the same Tunisia when they won their second Nations Cup.
"Our last friendly against Cologne really brought out the best in us. It was a very physical game and we fought back to win against a very decent side," he said.
Nigeria won 3-2 with a brace from midfielder Garba Lawal to round up their month-long training stint in Faro, Portugal.
Coach Christian Chukwu said he is excited that Nigeria's Super Eagles are not one of the top favourites at the African Nations Cup as this will take the pressure off his team.
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