Eagles ’ll Beat Black Stars —Mikel

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Chelsea of England midfielder, Nigeria’s Mikel Obi says the semi final cracker between Ghana and Nigeria, will be different from what obtained three years ago.

The Eagles’ midfielder believes that Nigeria have what it takes to beat Ghana in today’s cracker.

“The environment will be different, the whole stadium will not be behind them, besides this team have more to prove than the one that played them two years ago”

He dismissed speculations that the Eagles were not playing well. “….we are not playing well and we are in the semi final? Perhaps we should not play well and win the cup, rather than play well and go back home to watch the match on television.”

He said the competition itself has proven that there are no small teams any more in Africa, that is why Cote D´Ivoire, Cameroun , Mali and Tunisia among others are no more in the competition.

“We should not be judged by the performance against the Zambian team. They were tactically very disciplined, one of the most difficult matches I have played for a very long time and victory could have gone either way. They gave us a lot of problems, we played better but we did not just take our chances when we should and that gave them the confidence to come at us.

“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 23-year-old World Youth Championship silver medalist said Nigeria will beat Ghana.

“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 saying so he quickly added that it may not be easy, but that it will happen. “ They will come at us, but I know we have the experience and the resources to subdue them” he added, confidently.