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The Super Eagles midfielder has praised the work of the coach following their qualification for the last eight of the Afcon where they will now meet the Elephants

Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has said that they have an opportunity of stamping their authority on the Africa Cup of Nations when they meet Cote D’Ivoire in Sunday’s quarter final match.

The Super Eagles defeated Ethiopia 2-0 courtesy of Victor Moses’ penalties late in the encounter on Tuesday night.

“It’s been great for us qualifying [for the tournament] because last time we didn’t make it. This time we’ve qualified and the group of players we have, and the new manager we have – he’s come into the team and made his stance. If you want to play for the country you have to give a hundred and ten percent, that’s what he demands from every player,” Mikel said at post-match press conference.

“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.

“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.”

The Chelsea midfielder rated the game against the Ethiopians highly but that they knew what they were up against while preparing for the encounter.


“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,” said Mikel.

The Super Eagles will next take on the Elephants in a big West African duel in Sunday’s quarter final encounter in Rustenburg.

Source: Goal.com

CFCfan: As it stands, there could be 7 West African teams in the q-finals. This tourney can be renamed as the ECOWAS Cup

Can you just imagine? does it mean west Africa rules or what?

[quote author=never_say_never]Look, CIV was just an example of a team that didn't let it's fans almost have hypertension by winning her group matches smoothly, unlike our dear Naija. Ghana & S/Africa had 4 points after 2 matches, so they had better odds at qualifying, they could have both lost their last matches, & depending on what happens in other matches, still qualify. Had Nigeria lost against Ethiopia, it was over, no calculations. The OP said Nigeria was going to have a dismal show & was barely gonna qualify from the group stage, can you boldly say Nigeria's performance was good, really? As i said earlier, 'barely' means 'almost impossible', not 'totally impossible. I'm not 100% after the OP's prediction, but you can only question his AFCON prediction if he had used the word 'barely' for a team like CIV.[/quote]And when has the SE not been playing with HP? tell me when last you watched Nigeria play without some having HP issues, so it's not new.

Having 4 points was not enough for any of these countries to qualify until they won/drew their last matches, same with Nigeria, they were all in the same category and there's no way you can separate them. they all needed their last matches to move to the next stage.

If they lost their matches and the others won or even drew, they would have lost out, so whichever way you look at it, they were all in the same pot of soup.

No matter how you try to paint it, whoever didn't win 2 matches were not guarantee any passage until their last match and apart from CIV, the rest 7 quarter-finalist fall into this group, so does that mean all the 7 barely qualified?

If we had drawn last night and still end up qualifying, then the word "barely" would have made sense!

BTW, we finished same point with the group leader with just 2 goals difference, so nothing like "barely" in the passage.

dagr8: the emboldened is on point

but dont stretch ur luck too far...quarter final is d final destination...

I still remember dis post

The northern country part winning the cup came with the 'sacrifice' i put up, not for the SE getting to the semis.

lagerwhenindoubt: please swallow those words.. you are hopelessly infected with the Super Eagles of the Westerhof Era

0:2, now that we have won, so what do you want me to do now? still swallow those words or?

Boomark: I don't think this looks like barely qualification.

You dey mind some people ni like say him dey talk to fools!

acidtalk: When I type, I type or comment for people of wisdom. That's why you hardly find me commenting or even visiting nairaland these days.

Imagine your senseless point of claiming they qualified with 5points and talking of moses's possibility of scoring if he wasn't brought down.

I am not here to argue with you as I only do that with people of wisdom.

That post was up 3 solid weeks before the commencement of the Nations Cup. Moreover, weren't all your expectations and hopes in your mouth while the match was going on? My brother be reasonable for once.

I am not God and CAN NEVER be. I won't boast over any of my predictions coming to past, but I thank God for the gift HE has bestowed on me. He has the power to alter or totally change what He has shown me previously. Since you don't know me or my story, I advice you to stay clear.

your words already sold you out as someone who's opposite of what he claims to be.

Only lizards praise themselves, but unfortunately, you do not know the definition of wisdom.

To predict (probability) is now wisdom? May God restore you like i said before.

And i am daring you, i want to know you and your story and i dare your advice.. can you bring it on?

i really want to face people like you who think they know.

acidtalk: Open your brain and think.
The LAST match decided your fate and the 2nd half was what gave the victory (undeserved one). You won through TWO penalties. What do you call that. Don't just criticize for the sake of it. Reason before doing that. When I predict I don't just do it for the sake of it.

If TB Joshua or Adeboye brough this out would you have the confidence to ask them this crap? Abi na because I dey follow use nairaland.

Why didn't your entire men of God predict on the Super eagles at AFCON? So far bro, I am still 10/10 on point to swallow it.

Abeg hush jare, trying to twist it to suit you.

Is 5 points "barely"?

what did SA and Cape Verde qualify with?
When did they get their goals?

We scored 2 DESERVING penalties and you are here spewing air just to sound "justified"

who cares about Adeboye and tb Joshua? do you think everyone hold what these people say in high esteem?

We won with 2 penalties that could have resulted to 2 goals if Moses wasn't brought down in the eighteen yard box.
say something better jare and stop trying to hug straws.

And i hope a North Africa is going to win the nations cup?

There was a time i use to take somethings serious about your posts, but of recent, they have been pure "hmmmm" may God restore you!

acidtalk: I still dey laugh oh!
Shebi na Cote d ivore una wan play next??

Is this your response to the "barely"?

2:0 is barely?

[quote author=never_say_never]Try to get it. CIV have qualified with a match to spare & have more points then Nigeria will have even if they win, Nigeria have to wait till the last match to be sure of their stand, they might as well lose, & even if they win, they'll know they were fortunate unlike CIV who have qualified even without playing their last group match.[/quote]it still doesn't make it barely because we are to win and that's all we need. If drawing, yet qualify, then you can call it 'barely'.

So using CIV as sample is not 'it' because only them qualified with a game to spare. Does that mean the rest 7 are going to barely qualify?

[quote author=never_say_never]Barely means "By a small margin" or "Almost not at all". So, you see....he said their chances are so slim, not that they certainly wont. A chance is a chance, even if it's small.[/quote]But their chances aren't small because moving to the quarter finals is in their hands. just a win by any margin is what is needed, so nothing "barely" here.

Piponomics: I know people are on the EJ sell. Watch this current 4hr candle closely. We [b]could [/b]be headed back north.

Well, it could head south just as north too.

[quote author=never_say_never]so far so good for acidtalk's predictions, only one north african country left in the tournament, but who says they cant win it, & Nigeria has been what he said they'll be (so far).[/quote]How is the bolded?

Do you know what "barely" mean?

Unless Maku wants to debate himself the Jonathan style.

To be staged in Aso rock

Abati as time keeper

Okupe abi na oku-igbe as moderator

Madam Patience as cheerleader.

Sincerenigerian a.k.a oniro, solomon-wannabe, Taraqa abi na talaka?, e-billionaire as bouncers.

Oya madam Oby, if you know your salt, come and debate in this settings

surveycash: Sell;
GBPJPY at 142.30 sl: 142.80 tp: 140.30
EURJPY at 122.05 -> sl: 123.05 tp: 119.05

Nice but bro, your entry points?

^^^

That was a miss, thanks for the correction.

Chongaiman: Bros, shey if I halla "Gbagaun!!", it will not be misconstrued as derailing?

If the right word is not "tolerate", can you help us with the right word?

[quote author=Human_being1st]i just pray niger beat then 2-0 then dey are out[/quote]Stop hating, they deserve where they are right now even though the ref helped them against Mali.

Parnassuss: FYI I am a student pilot so no be guess me dey throw, that plane go fit fly.

Can you help the guy achieve his dream? at least going to check out the plane to see if it's fit to fly, then together with him, both of you can test-fly it?

Freiburger: Why retaliating against Nigeria only? France?

You can only bully someone weaker than you and in this case, Nigeria is weaker than France militarily, so you see?

I pray they don't attack Nigeria sha, but if they insist, they should not miss ASO ROCK. they should restrict their attacks to that target alone. the rest of Nigerians didn't take the decision o.

redcliff: LOL Like i said i have certificates in my previous post? check very well Mr ODe. he wants to build an yiacraft. i did not send the panel beater message. let him go ahead and fly it. You said its not flying yet. so if it isnt flying at the moment then it should be called a craft not an aircraft because the purpose which he started it for hasnt been accomplished. MY DESTINY is not same as his. so pls FU.C.K OFF you ibo trader..

And what are you doing with all your certificates? what have you helped mankind with?

Since you didn't send him message, why then are you insulting him?

GenBuhari: I am just delighted that all the arab nations have been sent packing!!

Now the real competition can start

Not all, Tunisia still in the race.

sweetguy10: Rarity . Messi gets more passes from Alves

Meaning?

sweetcheecks: Cry? Are you sure you got the right person? Bring it on. You were attacking us right through the game and now you scream murder. And I am just saying the truth.

Careful my bite doesnt end.

If i attack you, you won't be able to type 5 comments, believe me, but i won't do that for now, rather i was stating what i noticed in this tournament in general. maybe you should show me where i attacked "you".

Yes, i got the right person, hence the reason you were quoted.

mikeywise: i want Ghana out of this Afcon.

Why?

Well the only way they can be knocked out is if a better side meets them.

redcliff: Encourage mediocrity? are you hearing yourself? Now tell me, you have two options, pick one. You want to learn to drive. do you just enter into the car without having an idea of how to move it OR would you rather learn to move it, know what it entails to be a driver before getting into the steering wheel? do you think an aircraft is just one of those in-complex machines one just invents and starts using it? or dyu think its the Car the Nigerian inventors create and call their inventions?

are you okay? my friend take a back seat///

What have you invented in your life? an innocent question o.

Waiting..

redcliff: Mr, dont get me wrong. Please try to be logical while reasoning. would you manufacture an automobile if you are just a common oerson who has no knowledge of it? YES or NO would be an appropriate answer.

Since it's not yet flying, can you do us the favor, take it up from where the man stopped. he said he needs help with his projects, you have all the degrees abi so you should be able to finish where he stopped.

We are waiting for you mr certificates.

1.5880 coming soon on GU, this is a must take trade.

saw this in my dream between last night and this morning.
entry" 1.5720. 50 pips sl.

Without going to the police station, how do you intend locating a man you killed on a high way in an area that's not that close to residential homes?

Make people dey reason now before posting.

Lunsat: That penaulty was a tricky one. I looked at the video again and what I saw is this: The Zambian striker was clearly inside the penalty box with both his feet. He had the ball in front of him and facing the goal keeper in an attacking position. The Nigerian player who was outside the penalty box reaches out and grabs both his arms from behind and pulls him back. The Zambian striker staggers back wards and ends up on his knees with one leg on the line and the other leg outside the box protesting to the referee and a penalty is given.

You obviously looked at something else and not that particular match.

JimloveTM: kk nyc comments.. I once wrote an exam in my secondary school where 2 guys obviously cultists sat by me.. I dint mind them, come see threats na, i had no choice but show, so hw do u survive not being a victim of malpractice in thus case?

You ignore them or just give them random answers to whatever they are asking.