Did you believe from the onset Nigeria would be champions again?
Yes. We had it at the back of our mind to win right from the training camp in Portugal. We were driven to write our names in gold, make Nigerians happy and with hard work, God made it possible for us.
After the first two games, where the Eagles drew with Burkina Faso and Zambia, millions of Nigerians lost hope in the team. Was that the same feeling in the team?
There was no point in the competition that I, for one, felt we won’t win it. I told you before we went for the tournament that there are no small teams in football again. I knew it won’t be an easy task for us, so we prepared for it and kept believing in ourselves even when things looked difficult.
What would you say were the secrets behind Nigeria’s triumph?
I will say God. We were also determined, worked hard and were united as one big family fighting for a common goal together. The spirit was so high and we just didn’t see ourselves losing and that kept us going till the end. There was no division whatsoever in the team.
How did you feel when you came face-to-face with your former Chelsea teammates and friends, Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba?
It was great to be together again after a while. I missed them, but I broke their hearts, I had to do it because I needed the trophy.
How would you rate the Super Eagles now?
We won the Nations Cup; we are African champions, so we are the best. The team kept improving game after game because we have a lot of new boys in the team and we were getting on well. We will keep improving. It was a good performance overall.
Which was your toughest game in the game?
All the games were tough, but let me pick the final game against Burkina Faso. They really gave us a good fight even more than they did in our opening group match.
What can you say about the 2013 Nations Cup as a whole?
It was a great tournament. The organisation was superb; the standard of play was good. It was a great experience.
Many people expected you to be named as the player of the tournament, but it was not to be. Were you disappointed?
No hard feelings because my mission to the Nations Cup was accomplished. I have dreamt of winning the trophy and now I have got it. I would have loved an additional award, but it was not a big deal.
What of with the national team?
The next competition we will feature in now is the Confederations Cup, it will be nice to win that and add to my medals’ collection. It will be another history for Nigeria and the continent, but getting ticket to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is very important too.
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