CD Chaves playmaker Kelechi Nwakali, is upbeat he has a lot to offer Nigeria’s Super Eagles if he eventually makes it to the 2023 African Cup Of Nations AFCON tournament in Cote d’Ivoire npflupdates.com reports.
Kelechi Nwakali was part of the Super Eagles squad that participated in the last edition of the African Cup Of Nations (AFCON), tournament held in Cameroon.
The 25-year-old featured three times for the Super Eagles, but wasn’t available for the knockout stages fixture against Tunisia due to a health challenge. While speaking to the PUNCH about his intentions for the Super Eagles going into the AFCON, Nwakali also appreciate his inclusion in the 40-man provisional list submitted to the CAF by Jose Peseiro.
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Nwakali talks about his aim and objective for the Super Eagles ahead of the AFCON
“It feels good to be back in the team once again ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations next month and I will do everything to ensure that I make the final squad again,” the former Golden Eaglets captain said.
Speaking on how he got the news of his inclusion in the 40-man provisional list, he revealed being told by a friend.
“I got the news from a friend last week and I thank God because it is an honour to be considered to play for your fatherland. I just want to keep working hard and I believe that I have a lot to offer the team at the Nations Cup. My dream is to help the team win the tournament again,” he continued.
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“As you said, I played for the team at the last edition of the tournament in Cameroon, where we reached the round of 16 and I believe this time we can get to the final again, like we did in 2013.”
While talking about the failures of the Super Eagles last AFCON outing, the former Ponferradina playmaker highlighted they take their chances during their games. Also, talked how Alex Iwobi’s red card against Tunisia affected their attacking power.
“It is basically not taking our chances during games. At the last edition, we were just unlucky not to have defeated Tunisia. After we conceded that goal, we dominated play but the red card to Alex Iwobi affected our attack and we could do little to force the game into extra time,” he started.
“We had a good side and believed we could win it because we were the only team that won all three group games. We outclassed a star-studded Egypt that had Mohamed Salah in great form then. Before our game against Egypt, I remember reading and watching analysts writing off the Eagles but we shocked them,” he concluded.
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Nigeria for the 2023 AFCON is seeded in the same Group ‘A’ alongside host nation Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
