Complete Football Edition 9

How much of an influence do
you think foreign coaches have
had on African football?
Whether you're foreign or local, what
is important is the experience that
you have of your working
environment. There's Hector Cuper
who's vastly experienced and Hugo
Broos who won the Cup and is
experienced too. The level of
coaching is very good in Africa and
the level of the teams was also very
good. We saw good organization,
good preparations and a good
synergy between coaching and
playing staff and that's what I think
foreign coaches have brought to
complement the natural abilities of
the African players.
Kelechi is a young player with an awesome future
Kelechi will come back in this team.
He's a fighter with a good fighting spirit.
What's the implication of
Cameroun's AFCON win
for our World Cup
aspirations?
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COMPLETE FOOTBALL
I'm happy for Cameroun and
I'm happy for us because we
now have to beat the
champions of Africa in order
to qualify for Russia 2018. We
need good preparations. We
didn't have any games while
Cameroun had six games at
the AFCON. They were
together for almost a month
and half for preparation and
tournament proper so they
have an advantage over us.
They are also going to be at
the FIFA Confederations Cup
and that's another great
opportunity for them to bond
together. We don't have that
but we must make do with
what we have and prepare as
best as we can because there
will not be an acceptable
explanation for failure if we
don't qualify.
But don't you think the game
against Cameroun now has added
significance…?
We have to be careful not to focus too
much on Cameroun because we are
not playing them until the last week of
August. The most important game at
this moment is our game against
South Africa and that's what we must
do everything possible to win. Don't
forget that we have not qualified for
the AFCON since 2013 so we must
focus on the crucial game against
South Africa.
One of your regular strikers Kelechi
Iheanacho has not had a smooth
ride at Manchester City this season.
Are you worried that his lack of
game time could affect his output
for the national team?
Kelechi is a young player with an
awesome future. He did not play much
last season because Manchester City
have got Gabriel Jesus but am sure that
Kelechi will come back in this team. He's
a fighter with a good fighting spirit. I
spoke with him and I'm sure he will come
back into the City team. Kelechi has a
good spirit and excellent attitude and I'm
COMPLETE FOOTBALL
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