AFCON 2013: Eagles Can Handle Pressure — Shorunmu

The Super Eagles Goalkeeper Trainer, Ike Shorunmu, has said that the players are aware of the magnitude of the task at hand in their buildup for the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.

Shorunmu made this remark during an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

The former Super Eagles goalkeeper stressed that; the team would not want to let its teeming fans down.

“The most important thing is that these players that have been invited for the preparation understand the importance of the task, so they won’t want to disappoint our fans.

“It will be a collective effort and every member of the team will play their part well.

“We understand that the expectations are high and the players and the coaching crew are working hard to get the team in shape for the AFCON,’’ Shorunmu said.

When asked about the psychological state of the players, in terms of expectation of fans, the former Stationery Stores FC of Lagos goalkeeper said that the players were ready.

“For sure, pressure will come and that’s the essence of having a coach. Pressure pushes one to succeed if well managed, so I believe that coach Stephen Keshi has been able to do that.

“The pressure before we qualified was much and we were able to manage that pressure and we got our spot, so we have done this before and we will do it again,’’ Shorunmu said.

The Super Eagles are in Group C, alongside defending champions, the Chipolopolo of Zambia, Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia and the Stallions of Burkina Faso.

The teams will play their matches at Mbombela in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.