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| Adebayor says Cote D'ivoire would always let you down. |
Togo striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, has tipped Nigeria, there are four other African countries that will take part at the World Cup from next month. Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Ivory Coast are the four other nations.
But the Tottenham Hotspur forward has picked the African champions to shine at the World Cup ahead of the other African representatives saying they “have all the ingredients to be good in the World Cup.”
The former Arsenal and Manchester City man also talked on the influence the trio of John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Vincent Enyeama will have in the Nigerian team during the World Cup.He explained that Nigeria’s Super Eagles because of their coach, Stephen Keshi, who managed Togo between 2004 and 2006 and qualified them for the 2006 World Cup.
“Out of these teams, it [my choice for which of the African teams will go the furthest] would be Nigeria because of their concentration. Because of Stephen Keshi [the coach] – he knows a lot about football and everything. He has been there as well as a player for Nigeria.
“And they have got Victor Moses, who is a great friend of mine, and I like the way he plays. Jon Obi Mikel played a lot for Chelsea this year and showed how good he is. Their goalkeeper
(Enyeama) is very good. Nigeria have all the ingredients to be good in the World Cup,” Adebayor told British newspaper, Express.
Key men..Keshi for Nigeria&Asamoah of Ghana.
Adebayor also gave a no-holds-bar verdict on the chances of Ivory Coast and Ghana.
“I never trust them (Ivory Coast). They are the country that will always let you down. I know all of them from the bench to the manager. Sabri Lamouchi [their coach] is my very good friend.
“How come for the last four or five years have they not won the African Cup of Nations? They have got the best striker in Europe in Didier Drogba. They have got the best midfielder today, Yaya Toure. You’ve got one of the best strikers in the league today, the one that plays at Swansea, Wilfried Bony. You have all of those players.
“But the thing is, are they going to be collective enough? I don’t know. I am not an Ivorian. They will be talking, laughing and enjoying themselves but when the time comes, they will forget about their job.
“There’s no togetherness. Everyone wants to be the hero. Everybody wants to be the one to finish on a high so the folks remember them for what I have done, not for what we have done as a generation, nor for what we have done as team. Everyone wants to be like a hero and that is what is killing Ivory Coast.
Drogba and Mikel Obi
“Ghana have a good team. I hope they do well but they have done everything that is possible.
“Asamoah Gyan is a great player and great friend of mine but is now playing in Dubai. He is still their main man. If he is not in form or if he does not match the level of the World Cup, then Ghana will struggle,” said Adebayor.
The African champions, Nigeria, will begin their World Cup appearance when they face Iran at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba on June 16.