FRANCIS ACHI/Marrakesh,Morocco
Having scored two decisive goals that switched the tide in favour of the CHAN Eagles in the quarter final game against Angola that ended 2-1 and the lone goal against Sudan, which condemned the North African side to defeat at the semi final, Gabriel Okechukwu has said that he never doubted his abilities as a striker despite starting from the bench at the beginning of the tournament .
Okechukwu, who started the game against Sudan, scoring with his first cut chance on goal with a sublime clinical finish said that the game against Sudan was the most difficult game the Eagles played so far in the tournament, as he stressed that the Sudanese side played a very tactical and physical football, but Eagles were determined and worked very hard to qualify for the final.
” It was hard work. I feel very happy and excited about my performance because I have not been given a long playing time , but I never doubted my abilities as a striker. And when I had the opportunity to play, I did well scoring the winning goal against Angola and the lone goal against Sudan, ” Gabriel Okechukwu said.
He added : ” Sudan was the toughest side we played so far in the tournament. The team was very tactical and technical , a very good side and for us to win the game with a man down made the team to feel real good about ourselves and I think we deserved the victory.”
” We are going to play in the final against the host nation, Morocco. The game will be similar to Sudan and I believe if we work very hard , we can beat Morocco and win the trophy for the first time for Nigeria,” he concluded .