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Former Super Eagles striker and 2013 AFCON winner Brown Ideye talks about the Super Eagles chances at this year’s edition in Ivory Coast, playing under Stephen Keshi and more in this interview with JOHNNY EDWARD
How impressed have you been with the quality of play at the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast?
I’ve been quite impressed with the quality of play from the so-called small teams. The likes of Namibia, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea have really impressed me and I look forward to better performances in the last 16. Senegal and Morocco have also excelled. It’s has been a great AFCON so far.
What’s your assessment of the Eagles performance in the group stage?
The first game I was a bit disappointed that we drew 1-1. It was a very tough group. The game against Ivory Coast decided our fate and I’m glad that we won. In the last game (against Guinea-Bissau), there were lots of promising signs, and I believe the Eagles will come good.
Despite their array of attacking talents the Eagles managed to score only three goals in the group stage. Are you worried at the team’s poor goals run?
Of course I am but I don’t think we should put pressure on them. Their overall play and contribution has been good. Playing for Nigeria comes with so many expectations. I believe the Eagles attack will come good.
Do you think coach Jose Peseiro can lead the Eagles to another AFCON title win?
We have to wait and see if he can achieve that feat. The Eagles are in the last 16 and this is where the tournament starts. At least he is yet to lose a game at the tournament, even if the team play has not being too impressive. We just have to believe and support the team in achieving their motive of winning a fourth African Cup of Nations title.
Looking at the round of 16 tie against Cameroon, what must the Eagles do to win?
They must not underrate the Cameroonians. We all know they are very physical in their play and their transition is quite fast but the Eagles have shown they can defend well. We saw that against Ivory Coast even if I feel we were not daring enough. Also, we must be clinical and take our chances. We are creating chances and I hope that the goals will start coming on Saturday. Cameroon will be looking for revenge which the Eagles must be well prepared for. That game will be won by the team that shows better mentally and are ready psychologically. The Cameroonians have good players too in their team, just like we do; we have good players but it’s the cohesive play that is missing. I hope that changes in our next game.
Where do you think this game will be won and lost?
I think it’s a 50-50 game because both teams have not really shown what they can offer. They are still trying to find their feat. But I feel that the team that shows more hunger and desire will win it.
Aside the Eagles, who are you tipping to win the tournament?
The remaining teams left in the tournament are potential winners and no team should be underrated. But it feel the team that has shown desire to win it more from the games played is Senegal. Morocco are also in there, just as the Eagles as well. They (Eagles) have a good chance considering the fact that they are growing gradually into the tournament. But there will be more upsets in the knockout stages. We’ve seen a lot of upsets due to so many reasons and I believe we will still witness some more from the knockout stages, where the tournament is expected to come alive. Nobody believed Ghana and Algeria would exit the tournament in the group stage and Ivory Coast would bank on other results to stay in the competition. Its a warning to the big teams that there are no minnows again in African football. The gap is gradually closing up. Look at Egypt and Cameroon, they needed last-gasp miracles to stay on in the competition.
You were part of the 2013 squad that won the country’s last AFCON title 11 years ago. How difficult was it winning Africa’s biggest football showpiece?
It was very difficult from the start but late Stephen Keshi masterminded the success. I didn’t believe that we would win the AFCON in 2013. We just went there to represent our country, ourselves, our families and to give our best. We struggled to qualify from the group but the game against Ivory Coast in the quarter-final was the trigger that made us believe we could go on to win the tournament. Nobody gave the Eagles a chance against the star-studded Ivorian side back then.
How did the team manage to pull the fire out of the chestnut in that encounter?
Nobody gave us a chance to beat Ivory Coast, let alone win the AFCON title in 2013, even the players in the team didn’t believe we could win it. There was this disbelief because of how we started the tournament, recording two draws against Zambia and Burkina Faso. But it was when we defeated Ivory Coast we had that belief that we could actually win it. We motivated ourselves and supported each other to ensure that we won the title. In the lead-up to the quarter-finals, Didier Drogba came to our dressing room, shook hands with everyone and wished us the best, expressing his hope that his country would emerge victorious but against all odds we won. After the match, he returned to our dressing room, congratulated us, and told us that he had dreamt of our AFCON victory even before the game, offering his best wishes. After the win over Ivory Coast, we had a meeting among ourselves and analysed the strength of countries left in the tournament — Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali — and we were very confident that none of them could stop us. In the semi-final game against Mali, initially we were scared but when the goals started pouring in, the confidence returned. I told the group that if we face Burkina Faso in the final we will lift the trophy, which happened.
The final against Burkina Faso was a tough game, how difficult was it defeating the Stallions?
Personally I knew we were going to win if we faced them in the final. Our fear back then was playing against Ghana in the final. So, when we heard that they defeated Ghana, that was when our belief increased that the trophy was ours. We were 100 per cent sure of victory.
You played as a second striker and more often as a winger at the tournament. Was it a role you were happy to play?
In fact, at the 2013 AFCON I did not have a position. That was what some people never knew. I was a roving forward. Keshi gave me a free role to play. He told me to drift in and out of any position in attack and that was why you would see me switch roles with Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike. He believed that I had the strength to get it done.
How did you feel lifting Africa’s biggest football trophy
Holding that trophy was a reward for all the fight and quarrels we had in camp back then. It was memorable. Winning the AFCON title also quashed the rift we had amongst ourselves.
What was the rift in the team then?
This happens in every camp and every team. Some players didn’t like what was going on in camp at that time. A few of them who were not playing felt that they deserved to play and there were some who were playing and were not giving 100 per cent. Keshi always called those players out and threatened to replace them. That kept us all on our toes; even in training it was war because every player wanted to show that they were ready to play and impress the coach. There were some little disagreements among players, which we resolved when we won the AFCON. Before the start of the tournament many believed we couldn’t win the tournament because of the likes of Ivory Coast and Ghana. They didn’t believe in the players Keshi took to the tournament. So, when we were drawn to face Ivory Coast in the quarter-final, they booked our return tickets, but I don’t blame them for that. It was their decision but we proved them wrong.
How did you feel after the 2013 AFCON final whistle was blown?
The feeling is indescribable. I cannot really explain how I felt. As the saying goes you can only explain it when you experience it. If you were there, you will understand me. Prior to that time, I only felt like that when I won a Cup title with Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine. Winning the AFCON for my country is priceless.
Did that triumph change your life?
It did not change my life but it gave me an edge. It put my name on the global map among the list of Nigerian players to have won the AFCON. Representing my country and winning the AFCON is what most of us were lucky to have achieved. Not every player had that opportunity to win the AFCON title.
What was it like playing under the late Stephen Keshi?
It was awesome playing for Keshi. He brought back the discipline, hunger, unity and desire to the players representing Nigeria. Even when many wrote his team off, he used it as a source of motivation for us players. He was a great man.