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Nigeria’s midfielder Peter Osaze Odemwingie says the Super Eagles are closest ever to their dream of clinching the most prized asset at the ongoing Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Angola 2010.
The Super Eagles will come face-to-face with traditional rivals Ghana’s Black Stars in the first semi-final of the tournament at the November 11 Stadium in Luanda this evening, and Odemwingie says they can’t allow the golden opportunity of playing in the grand finale slip by.
“We are closer than ever to realising our dreams and we can’t afford to miss out. Our destiny is in our hands,” the Locomotiv Moscow midfielder told cafonline.com after the Super Eagles training session at the June 11 Stadium in Luanda on the eve of the semis clash.
Spotting his training gear while sipping a mini-bottle of energy drink with a cluster of journalists around him, the 27-year-old said the team is regaining their confidence after a false start in the competition.
“Our confidence level is high. The victories in the last three games has boosted our chances.”
The midfielder, who made his debut at the Tunisia 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, admitted the Super Eagles are more experienced than the Black Stars, dominated by countable debutantes.
His view is shared by Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi who remarked that his charges will have no excuses for failing to scale over the Ghana hurdle.
“In football, experience counts largely. Sometimes, experience doesn’t matter. They are a good side with talented young players.”
The Black Stars cut short the Super Eagles’ campaign at Ghana 2008 with a 2-1 win at the quarter-final, a result the 22-year-old is seeking to overturn.
“We have played them before but this is a different ball game. We are determined to advance and we will put in the best to achieve our target.”
For Head Coach, Shuaibu Amodu, the clash revives the age-long rivalry between the two West African giants.
Amodu, an unpopular figure back home in Nigeria, reckons a tough outing against the youthful Ghanaian side, ousters of hosts Angola.
In six meetings between the two sides at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles have been on the winning side thrice, two losses and one draw, and the 51-year old trainer is seeking to maintain the winning streak.
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