Cape Town - Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said it was time for his
players to up the ante somehow, as the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations
qualifying campaign draws closer to its conclusion.
During what has been a rather tumultuous period in Nigerian football, the performance of the Super Eagles has also been below par.
However, the Nigeria Football Federation has since elected a legitimate administration and as a result Keshi’s immediate future with the national team has been secured, reports Football411.
Likewise the confidence in the squad has grown and Keshi’s faith in the players he has at his disposal has increased significantly.
However, he added that the onus was now on them to prove to the football fraternity that they do have the capacity to compete against the best that Africa has to offer.
"Kidding is over, now is time for serious business," Keshi told the Daily Independent on Wednesday.
"We have played with ourselves for some time, now is time for business and we have to get the job done and no kidding with players and officials."
Despite all that has transpired during this difficult qualifying period, the conviction that Nigeria would qualify for the 2015 tournament has never waned and now Keshi is more confident than ever that his team will have an opportunity to defend the Africa Cup of Nations title.
"We have said we can qualify and we are ready for that task, now is time for action and less talk," said Keshi.
During what has been a rather tumultuous period in Nigerian football, the performance of the Super Eagles has also been below par.
However, the Nigeria Football Federation has since elected a legitimate administration and as a result Keshi’s immediate future with the national team has been secured, reports Football411.
Likewise the confidence in the squad has grown and Keshi’s faith in the players he has at his disposal has increased significantly.
However, he added that the onus was now on them to prove to the football fraternity that they do have the capacity to compete against the best that Africa has to offer.
"Kidding is over, now is time for serious business," Keshi told the Daily Independent on Wednesday.
"We have played with ourselves for some time, now is time for business and we have to get the job done and no kidding with players and officials."
Despite all that has transpired during this difficult qualifying period, the conviction that Nigeria would qualify for the 2015 tournament has never waned and now Keshi is more confident than ever that his team will have an opportunity to defend the Africa Cup of Nations title.
"We have said we can qualify and we are ready for that task, now is time for action and less talk," said Keshi.