BY JACOB AJOM
If there is any Nigerian who is sure of Super Eagles qualification for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in South Africa, that person is no other than former national team skipper, Chief Segun Odegbami.

Speaking to reporters at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos yesterday, the 1980 Nations Cup winner said notwithstanding the tottering state of Nigerian football at the moment, talking about Liberia being a threat to the Super Eagles was an insult.

“Nigeria and Liberia?. He asked, sarcastically, adding, “I think it is an insult to discuss that. No matter what has happened in recent times, the football world has not witnessed any major change. The world powers in the game are still there.“Look at the recently concluded European championships, despite the failure of the likes of the Dutch and French teams and Spain’s overwhelming victory, the likes of Italy, Germany are still there.”

Coming home to Africa, Odegbami posited that Nigeria remains a giant in African football. “You can talk about big teams like Egypt, Cameroun, Ghana and not Liberia. It will be inexcusable not to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.”

He noted that the poor run of some big names in African football could only be attributed to poor administration. “It cannot be because of the absence of talent.”