New CHAN Eagles hero Dele Ajiboye eyes historic victory on Sunday
CHAN Eagles hero Dele Ajiboye is eyeing a historic victory on Sunday when Nigeria battle Morocco in Marrakech African Nations Championship final.
Dele Ajiboye who is familiar with winning at the big stage having led Nigeria and Plateau United to 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and 2016-17 Nigeria Professional Football League title is expecting a tough final but depending on God for a historic victory on Sunday when Nigeria battle Morocco in Marrakech.
“I am expecting so much, and I pray to God to give us the day, so that we can make history for Nigeria by winning the tournament.”
Dele Ajiboye also revealed what the goalkeeper trainer Alloy Agu told him as he was coming in to replace injured Ikechukwu Ezenwa in Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Sudan on Wednesday.
The 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning goalkeeper was called on to replace reliable Ikechukwu Ezenwa who could not after picking up an injury in the 12th minute of the pulsating encounter and kept his cool.
The Plateau United goalkeeper made a couple of saves the highlight being a point-blank header destined for the back of the net that he kept out few minutes after Nigeria took the lead through Gabriel Okechuckwu.
Dele Ajiboye, however, revealed that he wasn’t happy his colleague and captain Ikechukwu Ezenwa picked up an injury but he was ready, willing and waiting for his chance
“As a player, you can’t say if you will be part of a tournament, as long as you are part of the squad, you need to be ready to get into action, and I was ready.
“When Ezenwa got injured, I was not too happy as he has been magnificent for the team since the first game, but when Coach Alloy Agu came to me, he told me that this is my chance to prove to everyone that I can do it, so I wasn’t scared. I was filled with confidence.”
This is the first time that Nigeria will be playing in the African Cup of Nations final after a third-place finish in 2014 and a group stages elimination in 2016.
