Adebayor backs Eagles, dismisses Elephants

Emmanuel Adebayor has tipped Nigeria to be the best-performing African nation at the World Cup
after claiming Ivory Coast’s chances will be hampered by a lack of “togetherness”.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group F alongside Argentina, Iran and Bosnia, while ivory Coast
have to face Colombia, Greece and Japan in Group C.

The Togo striker is confident the Super Eagles have the ability and cohesion to succeed in
Brazil, thanks largely to the experience of coach Stephen Keshi.

Adebayor told the Daily Express, “Out of these
teams, (my choice for which of the African teams
will go the furthest) would be Nigeria because of
their concentration. Because of Stephen Keshi –
he knows a lot about football and everything. He
has been there as well as a player for Nigeria.
“And they have got Victor Moses, who is a great
friend of mine, and I like the way he plays. John
Obi Mikel played a lot for Chelsea this year and
showed how good he is. Their goalkeeper is very
good. Nigeria have all the ingredients to be good
in the World Cup.”
Adebayor was less complimentary about the
Ivorians and believes the egos in their talented
squad will hold them back.
He added: “I never trust them. They are the
country that will always let you down. I know all
of them from the bench to the manager. Sabri
Lamouchi (their coach) is my very good friend.
“How come for the last four or five years have
they not won the African Cup of Nations? They
have got the best striker in Europe in Didier
Drogba. They have got the best midfielder today,
Yaya Toure. You’ve got one of the best strikers in
the league today, the one that plays at Swansea,
Wilfried Bony. You have all of those players.
“But the thing is, are they going to be collective
enough? I don’t know. I am not an Ivorian. They
will be talking, laughing and enjoying themselves
but when the time comes, they will forget about
their job.
“There’s no togetherness. Everyone wants to be
the hero. Everybody wants to be the one to finish
on a high so the folks remember them for what I
have done, not for what we have done as a
generation, nor for what we have done as team.
Everyone wants to be like a hero and that is what
is killing Ivory Coast.”
Algeria, Cameroon and Ghana make up the
African contingent at the finals.