Fans Hail Quality Of 2012 Nations’ Cup

Soccer enthusiasts in Lagos  have commended the high standard of football exhibited by the participating countries in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Technical Director of the Lagos Junior League (LJL), Tunde Disu, told newsmen  that the tournament had shown high quality of play from less recognised football countries.

Disu said the absence of football giants such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt and South Africa, had exposed the quality of play of smaller countries in football at the championship.

He said: “ because the so called big names in African football are not around, the smaller nations have been able to shine well.

“The 2013 edition will definitely be a tough one; there will hardly be an underdog, every group will be a group of death,” the former Flying Eagles coach said.

According to Disu, it will be difficult to predict which country will lift the trophy after assessing the level of technicality displayed by each country in the semi-finals.

“ Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali and Zambia have shown to be strong technical teams displaying a lot of quality in play; it will be difficult to predict the winner of this tournament,” he said.

The LJL chief expressed satisfaction at the rate in which African football had improved and hoped that Africa would soon be a contender with other European and south American countries at the world cup.

Chris Eseka, a veteran journalist, said inefficiency in the organisation of the tournament had resulted in the low turnout of spectators.

Eseka  had tipped Mali and Ghana for the final before the semi final matches, having shown a great deal of character in previous matches.

“Big names in African football are not present hence the little interest in the tournament from people.

“However for football lovers like myself, I believe Mali and Ghana will be at the finals,” Eseka  had said. However, Zambia upset Ghana while Ivory Coast beat Mali in semi finals decided on Wednesday.