Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi says the Super Eagles have a point to prove in Thursday's semifinal match-up against West African rivals Ghana at the African Nations Cup.

The rivalry between both teams is one of the most intense on the African continent and the Chelsea star, voted Man of the Match in the penalty shoot-out win over Zambia, says the players understand the importance of the game.

"Ghana´s match will be different. Any player that will be given a shirt on that day will be fired up to deliver. I know we are playing with a lot of pressure from our fans back home yet that should make us sit up and deliver.

"The environment will be different; the whole stadium will not be behind them, besides this team has more to prove than the one that played them two years ago.

"Don't ask me how or why, I know we will beat them. We are fired and ready. To have gotten this far, there is no stopping us. In Ghana, there were too many odds going against us, including a massive home support but here we will be starting on a level playing field and we will win."

In that game, playing before a vociferously partisan crowd, the Nigerian team lost 2-1 to a 10-man Ghana team. The Ghanaians also won a friendly game by a 4-1 margin a year earlier, and that has given the Black Stars confidence going into Thursday's duel.

Ghana eased through their quarterfinal, beating the hosts 1-0 while Nigeria needed extra time and penalties to edge past Zambia, with fans unhappy about the Eagles play on the day.

But Mikel says that was a different game.

Let them prove their worth on the pitch 2day

I see you've proved your point Mikel.

The Eagles have prooved that they cannot be performers when Nigerians put their trust in them

Oh what a clear point!

Mikel has only proved to be the greatest idiot to ever wear the hallowed No 10 jersey for Nigeria.
The best back/sideways passer of the nations cup.
Big fool