Keshi’s team, as good as the best –Kanu

Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu, has said that the current squad under coach Stephen Keshi can be rated as high as the best squads that have won laurels for the country in the past.

The current squad won the Africa Cup of Nations under Keshi in January and is just 180 minutes away from qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Kanu said the team had an impressive winning record and could be rated as one of the best ever produced.

“This team is good, there are quality players here; there’s no difference between this team and the medal-winning team in the past. We all wore these jerseys just to make Nigeria great,” the former Arsenal striker said.

“The important thing, however, is that Nigeria have qualified. I should really commend the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigerian fans for not putting pressure on the team. It was important the players concentrate on the mission.”

Malawi captain, James Sangala, who was shown a red card in the match, also confessed that the team had quality beyond his expectations.

“The Super Eagles strikers are very clever and very good with the shooting skills, it wasn’t easy to play against them, but we did our best to contain them,” Sangala said.

“Each time we tried to contain them but they end up coming face to face with our goalkeeper. We played against a very good side.”

Malawi coach, Tom Saintfiet, added that Nigeria had the quality and the mentality to play at the World Cup. He admitted it was difficult to isolate the key players in the Nigeria squad, saying the Eagles had achieved playing as a unit.

“There are several good players in Nigeria; it is possible to have another equally good team if Keshi wanted. I’ll really love to see Nigeria at the World Cup, they play good football,” the Belgian said.