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Soccer News of Tuesday, 25 October 2022

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Qatar 2022: Ex-Super Eagles international backs African teams to reach semi-final

Ike Shorunmu featured for Nigeria from 1992 to 2002 Ike Shorunmu featured for Nigeria from 1992 to 2002

Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu has backed African representatives at the fast-approaching 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to reach the semi-final stage.

This comes on the back of Kalidou Koulibaly's statement that African teams suffer from an inferiority complex which is why no African nation has won the World Cup.

No African team has made it past the quarterfinal stage at the World Cup after Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana crashed out of the global showpiece in the last eight in 1990, 2002, and 2010 respectively.

This year's Mundial is set to kick off in less than a month, on November 20 to December 18.

With the Super Eagles absent from this year's edition, the ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper has backed the other teams on the continent to make it to the semis.

“It is unfortunate that Nigeria will not take part in this year’s World Cup, but the important thing is for us to look forward,” the ex-goalkeeper told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“On the other African teams going to the World Cup, I believe they all have the belief that they can make a huge impact. The truth is any country going to a tournament goes with the mindset of winning.

“Winning the biggest football showpiece is a big question mark, but getting to the semi-finals is a point of duty for all the countries and I am sure that most of the countries have what it takes to get there and it will be a big plus for the continent as well.”

Shorunmu won 36 caps for Nigeria from 1992 to 2002.