Super Eagles’ media officer, Toyin Ibitoye has declared that all the players and coaches in the Nigerian national team are ready to put in the best of their ability and effort to prepare well for the Africa Cup of Nations, but says they would also need a lot of luck to succeed in Egypt.
While acknowledging the roles team unity, discipline and proper training will play in putting the players into proper shape, Ibitoye stressed that all efforts would fall short if the element of luck does not favour them.
The ace broadcaster acknowledged that hard work, discipline, dedication to training and ideal coaching are the basics need for good results, but he add during an interview during Mega Sports on Star 101.5 FM, Lagos that the x-factor that could determine the way results go is mother luck.
With that in view, Ibitoye urged Nigerian soccer fans to continue praying for the team, so that their efforts in training would be complemented by good results on the playing fields in The Land of the Pharaohs.
He went on to affirm that the return of Eagles’ skipper, John Mikel Obi, who missed all matches in the qualifiers for AFCON 2019, is already creating a positive buzz among the players, who he says are all fired up to make Nigeria proud at the continental soccer showpiece in Egypt.
The amiable spokesman assured Nigerians that the players, coaches and officials are all committed towards making the country proud at the upcoming championship, where they open against Burundi on June 22nd, before also playing Guinea and Madagascar in their other Group B ties.
Ibitoye added: “We are glad to have our captain back. Mikel is the captain of the team and the leader that is spurring all the players on.
“He is rally the team and his impact is being felt once again now that he is back with us in camp.
“We pray that there would not be any loss of form or injuries that could knock anyone out.
“We have the players, we have the right quality, who have a coach who can knock the players into proper shape, but we also need luck.
“After training so hard, giving enough discipline and showing total determination, we also need luck, so that our efforts will not be in vain.
“I believe we can go all the way. I think we will go all the way and make Nigeria proud.”
