Ahead of the Super Eagles’ first match at the Africa Cup of Nations against Equatorial Guinea, the captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Ahmed Musa has called for unity within the team in the face of social media criticism, Platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
Musa, exuding confidence and determination, dismissed the negative comments circulating on social media platforms, as he explained how he urged his fellow players to focus on their performance and not be swayed by external opinions. He also spoke on the need for a strong mindset, as he claimed the criticism on social media should serve as fuel for the team’s motivation rather than a source of discouragement.
During the pre-match conference, the captain addressed the players, preparing them mentally for the challenges that may arise in the form of online criticism. The message was clear – the team should be ready to face adversity and remain steadfast in their commitment to proving doubters wrong.
“We’re not kids that the coach is gonna say, we don’t have to listen to social media. Yeah, when you see all those criticisms on social media, so definitely you have to work hard so that you prove them wrong,” the 31-year-old said.
He also expressed confidence in the team’s goalkeepers, dismissing claims that they are not up to par. Drawing an analogy to praising one’s home-cooked food, the captain emphasized the importance of national pride and called on the public to support players
“For me, I think our goalkeepers are one of the best because you can never tell your friend that your home food is not good. So when you go out and say the Nigeria players are not good, definitely you are telling your friend that your country is not good,” explained the captain.
Nigeria will play Equatorial Guinea in their opening game on Sunday by 33 at the Alasanne Outtara Stadium in Abidjan.
Kennedy Ugbodaga reporting for Platinum News from Ivory Coast