Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi, has called on Nigerians not to write off the team ahead of their last Group B match against Spain at the ongoing FIFA Confederations Cup competition in Brazil.
Expectedly, the Super Eagles will tomorrow try to book a place in the semifinals of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup when they confront world and European champions, Spain in a make-or-mar encounter slated for the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Spain who has a 27-game unbeaten run is presently leading Group B with six points having defeated Uruguay 2-1 in their first match of the competition before recording a 10-0 bashing of Tahiti on Thursday night.
The Eagles on the other hand, after their impressive 6-1 win against the Oceania champions, Tahiti, , fell to the superior power of Copa American champions, Uruguay 2-1 in their second match played on Thursday.
Although Nigeria and Uruguay have the same number of points, having won a game each and lost a match each, the African champions are occupying the second position in Group B, thanks to their superior goal difference.
While the Coach Stephen Keshi-tutored side will be looking for an upset against one of the tournaments favourites, they will also be hoping that Uruguay loses to Tahiti or score fewer goals against their opponent to brighten their chances of progressing in the championship which is used as a dress rehearsal for the FIFA world Cup.
The Super Eagles' loss to Uruguay was their first defeat in over a year, dating back to May 2012 when they lost to Peru in a friendly.
Prior to playing Uruguay, they had remained unbeaten in 13 games in 2013, including draws with Mexico and Namibia in a world cup qualifier. And Spain on the other hand since losing to England in November 2011 has gone on a 27-match run without defeat.
Their last competitive loss was against Switzerland in their opening match at the 2010 World Cup. The last time Spain and Nigeria met at the FIFA World Cup in France in 1998, it was the Super Eagles who emerged victorious.
Fernando Hierro and Raul had twice given Spain the lead, but goals from Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal and Sunday Oliseh helped Nigeria to an emphatic 3-2 win.
However, playing against such an experienced team with world stars such as Fernando Torres and David Villa an extra work would be needed by the African champions to enable them pick at least a draw in the last Group B match of the ongoing FIFA Confederations Cup.
Meanwhile the Super Eagles gaffer, Keshi has advised Nigerians not to write the team off yet with a declaration that the La Rojas are beatable.
Speaking shortly after his team lost to the South American champions, Uruguay, he noted that although Spain boosts of talented players who have been together for a very long time, but the Super Eagles will not be intimidated by their star-studded team.
"We quite understand that defeating Spain is the only guarantee for us to progress at the next stage of the competition and we will try and do exactly that.
"My players have also put the loss against Uruguay behind them and are concentrating on putting up a good performance against our next opponents in our final group stage match and the technical crew is also working on the players to ensure they don't disappoint in Sunday's encounter.
"We will only respect them and play our normal game because in football, anything is possible," Keshi said.
Also speaking on the match, Spanish Coach, Vincente Del Bosque noted that his team will take the game serious because they want to win all their games in the championship.
"My players are going to approach the game with the same seriousness we played the last two matches because every game is important in this type of tournament.
"It is true that we have almost booked a ticket for the next stage of the competition, but we must strive to win the game against Nigeria because nobody can be sure of what will happen in the other match involving Uruguay and Tahiti," he added.
National Mirror
I strongly believe anything can still happen tonight so let's just wait and see. I forsee a shocker this evening.