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'It's true anyway' Nigeria is African champion, say South Africans
Posted: Friday February 11, 2000 09:27 AM
LAGOS (Reuters) -- The South African camp declared Nigeria African champions on Friday, the morning after losing 2-0 against them in the semifinals. "Let's be honest, the Nigerians are truly African champions in every respect," said South African defender Pierre Issa. "Granted we played badly, but the Nigerians have a complete team and they are the best African side at the moment," added goalkeeper Andre Arendse. Coach Trott Moloto said: "No doubt about it, we're second best. The brilliance of [Tijani] Babangida and the team was hard for us to accept." A brace of first half goals by Babangida gave Nigeria victory and a place in Sunday's final against Cameroon in Lagos. Nigeria's absence from the 1996 Nations Cup, hosted and won by South Africa, after a diplomatic row between the former leaders of both countries, took much of the prestige away from the event. The Confederation of African Football eventually banned the Nigerians from the 1998 finals in Burkina Faso. Much doubt has been cast on the real value of South Africa's victory four years ago and their second place in 1998.
The Nigerians, widely regarded as possessing the best team in Africa, certainly rate themselves true continental champions. You can't dispute the fact that we've got better quality players and the best team in Africa, said Nigerian midfielder Mutiu Adepoju. Babangida said: "If people say we have the best team in Africa then we accept, and it's true anyway. But this victory and others we've achieved in this tournament show we can beat any team." He praised Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere for mapping out the right strategy to beat the South Africans. "The kudos should go to coach Bonfrere. When he told me I'll be on the left wing, I was speechless. But he maintained it was part of our tactics and see how it paid off." But team captain Sunday Oliseh played down the importance of the victory over South Africa. "I don't know about our being African champions right now. We'll see after Sunday's final against Cameroon," he said. Cameroon beat Tunisia 3-0 in the other semifinal.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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