Keshi: Don't Set Tough Targets For Eagles

Keshi: Don't Set Tough Targets For Eagles

: Dec 03, 2013

---Eagles boss says Nigerians must be realistic in their expectations

Stephen Keshi has said Nigeria must be realistic about next year’s World Cup after top officials suggested a semi-final target for the team.

The Super Eagles will go to Brazil as African champions, but they have failed to go past the Round of 16 in their previous four outings at the global soccer showpiece event.

Nigeria's last victory in the World Cup dates back to 19 June 1998, when they edged Bulgaria 1-0. Since then the Super Eagles have failed to win in eight games and mustered just two draws, 0-0 against England in 2002 and 2-2 with Korea Republic in 2010.

And Keshi has said ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw in Brazil that the tournament will be tough as all the finalists have a point to prove.

“We have to be realistic because there are no small teams among the 32 going to Brazil, any of the team will be tough,” Keshi told Brila FM Radio.

 “We have no preference of any of the countries to be our group. All we need do is to prepare well for every team and take the games one after the other.

“If we get Brazil or Uzbekistan or Malta as World Cup opponents, Nigerians will still worry.”

“The country should continue to have confidence in the team, support the team,rather than pulling it down,” he added.  

Did You Know?
Egypt (1934)  is the first African team to qualify for the World Cup  
Tunisia (1978)  is the first African team to win a match in the World Cup
 Algeria (1986) is the first African team to qualify consecutively for two times
Morocco (1986) is the first African team to reach the knockout stage
Cameroon (1990) is the first African team to reach the quarter-final
South Africa (2010) is the first African team to host the World Cup