Nigeria’s amputee national football team says they was ready for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) billed to kick-off in Tanzania on November 26.

Team captain Sarafadeen Ọlálékan said on Friday, in Lagos, that their performance at the AFCON would help boost their chances of qualifying for the world cup.

Expressing optimism on the team’s chances for qualification, Mr Olalekan said they have “been having series of trainings, that is in the morning and afternoon.”

According to him, “The players have been improving day-in day-out and the coaches have been trying their best to keep us in shape ahead of the forthcoming tournament.

“I am very optimistic and by the special grace of God we are not going to disappoint Nigeria. We are still going to make Nigeria proud just like the way we did at the last nations cup in Angola,” the team captain said.

He noted that the players had been going through rigorous trainings to ensure that they were not caught unawares by their counterparts from other countries.

Mr Olalekan revealed that only the Black Challengers of Ghana and Egypt’s amputee teamsposed any real threats to the special eagles.

“In football the only challenges we encounter sometimes are the rigorous trainings which I think is part of what we need now.

“We need to be in shape and to be prepared to play against our counterparts in the forthcoming nations’ cup.

“We will be meeting with one of our rival countries which is the black challengers, I mean the Ghanaian amputee team, and also we have the new Egyptian amputee national team.

“This is really a big task ahead of us, but I am very optimistic and sure that by the special grace of God we are going to deliver.

“Now, we have 21 countries in Africa and 15 will be at the forthcoming nations cup, as so many countries are seeing the importance of this game.

“This is a very big task ahead of every country that will be participating at the forthcoming nations’ cup, because it is going to be a qualifier for the world cup in Turkey, in 2022,” he said.

Mr Ọlálékan urged the youth and sports ministry to ensure more local and international competitions were organised, to encourage more players to join the sport.

(NAN)