The leader of the Nigeria Football Federation has said that the burden of carrying the continent's hopes at the World Cup lies on the capable shoulders of the Super Eagles
The burden of carrying Africa's hopes at the 2014 World Cup will be shouldered by African champions Nigeria, the country's football chief Aminu Maigari has said.
The Super Eagles won the African title in South Africa last year and will go to Brazil as Africa's first reigning continental champions since Cameroon in 2002.
Nigeria are riding on a high confidence and officials have talked about finishing above Ghana's quarter final placement at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
"Nigeria is going to Brazil to make sure that we will make the entire continent of Africa proud," Maigari told Cafonline.com.
"In the same spirit, we wish well the other four African teams at the finals; Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, to also make the continent through their performance. We want to show that African football has grown and improved a lot over the years."
Maigari also dispelled fears about Nigeria taking an inexperienced squad to the tournament which could work against them.
"I don’t think [having a young team will work against us]," he said. "Football is all about skill and executing your tactics well.
"What we have done with our team is to mix these young players with some experienced ones.
"We did this during the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA Confederations Cup last year and it’s a strategy that we believe will serve us well."
Nigerian football has regained lost ground in the last couple of years with the national teams doing well on the international stage. Maigari said this has been due to good planning which will impact on the Super Eagles' World Cup.
"Under my leadership at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), we have done away with short- term planning. Instead, we are focused on long term objectives and planning. Very soon the team will be moving to a training camp for preparations.
"We have arranged top quality and befitting warm-up matches for our team, to give as much adequate preparation as possible," Maigari said.
Nigeria will play a friendly international against Mexico in Atlanta on March 5 before another set of matches against Scotland and Greece just before the World Cup.
The Super Eagles are drawn in Group F alongside Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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