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Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle and key player Moses Simon shared their thoughts on the game against Jamaica, slated to be held in London tomorrow, Soccernet.ng reports.
The three-time Africa Cup of Nations champions booked their place in the final of the Unity Cup following a 2-1 victory against their fiercest rivals, Ghana, at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Speaking to reporters, Nantes forward, Simon, who is experiencing his first tournament in the United Kingdom, expressed confidence and respect for the opposition.
“I feel good. This is my first time playing a tournament like this in the UK, and of course, we’re prepared. We know what it takes. There are no easy games when it comes to Nigeria,” Simon said.
Douglas Augusto and Moses Simon of FC Nantes celebrate 1st goal during the Ligue 1 match between OGC Nice and FC Nantes [Photo credit/Imago]
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Acknowledging the strength of Jamaica’s squad, the former KAA Gent forward revealed that beating the Raggae Boyz in the final of the competition will not be easy.
He added: “Jamaica have a strong team. Beating them in the final won’t be easy. They have a good coach, good players—just like us. So, we’ll see.”
Alex Iwobi, Simon Moses of Nigeria and Alfredo Kilembe Ribeiro and Manuel Luis Da Silva Cafumana of Angola during the TotalEnergies Caf Africa Cup of Nations Afcon 2023 match between Nigeria and Angola [Photo credit/Imago]The 29-year-old also touched on one of West Africa’s famous rivalries when asked about competition off the pitch:
“I’d say Ghana—because we’re very close, and we always argue about jollof rice! Especially with Jamaica too, there’s a kind of historical rivalry. It’s not about war, just about who’s better—and who has the best jollof rice. If you watched the last game, you’d know who has it.”
Eric Chelle Mali // during a African Cup of Nations Group E game, Namibia vs Mali [Photo credit/Imago]On the coaching side, Eric Chelle kept his focus firmly on his own team’s preparation and performance rather than the opposition.
“I don’t want to talk too much about Jamaica—I’m not their coach. My focus is on my team and how we approach this game,” Chelle said. “The most important thing for me is how the players play, how much they improve each day in training. That’s what matters.”
Chelle will be hoping to build on his last victory against Ghana when they face Jamaica tomorrow at Brentford’s home stadium.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories.
Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work.
