By Ayomide Jayeoba
Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu believed that missing the last two editions of the African Cup of Nations as the motive behind the Eagles’ resurgence under coach Gernot Rohr.
The Hapoel Be’er Sheva midfielder conceived that missing out on the Africa’s biggest competition since the 2013 triumph has given the players a new sense of urgency stressing that the team’s confidence remain high ahead of the double-header showdown with the newly crowned African champions, Cameroon later in the year.
The Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions alongside Algeria and Zambia were drawn in the same group that was tagged “the group of death” with the Eagles sitting atop of the group with six points against the Indomitable Lions’ two points which meant they are placed second four points adrift of their eternal rivals.
However, Ogu while speaking on a Brila FM programme monitored in Lagos yesterday warned that Cameroon are a top team and a respected opponent in Africa whether or not they are Champions of the continent it doesn’t change anything suggesting that the Indomitable Lions will feel buoyed and believe that after the AFCON triumph they can beat all comers.
“Cameroon are a strong and respected team in Africa not because they won the AFCON but because they have a rich history as far as the African football is concern, they can’t be underestimated and anyone who does that do so at their own peril” he noted.
The 28-year-old also praised coach Rohr and the quality of the team but insisted that there’s need to keep improving with the qualification for the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 AFCON as the major objectives for the country.
Ogu earned a recall to the national team in November under newly appointed Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, after a long spell out of contention and reckoning.
Nigeria host Cameroon on the 28th of August in Uyo before the second leg in Yaounde five days later.
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