Nigerians panicking over the country’s fate in today’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash against Ivory Coast in Rustenburg, South Africa, or those who have already written off the Super Eagles may be making a mistake. The Super Eagles, according to pacy forward Brown Ideye (shown in photo), know how to beat the Elephants and will do just that. “The Eagles are ready to prey on the Elephants,” Ideye confidently declared in this interview excerpted from MTN Football.com:

Question: Cote d’Ivoire are widely seen as the team to end Nigeria’s run at the Africa Cup of Nations. Will that be the case on Sunday?
Ideye: The game is going to be dicey, it is going to be a tough game for us. The Ivorians are better rated than us, but we will show character to ensure we do not lose this match.
You partnered Emmanuel Emenike in the Eagles first game against Burkina Faso, where you assisted him for Nigeria’s only goal, but you have since been consigned to the bench.
There is no bad feeling, we are a team of 23 players and all of us want to start. It’s a team game and we must respect the decision of the coach. There is no player who wants to watch from the bench, but sometime you just have to. No grudges as we are working as one family.
Many have not given the Eagles a chance especially with the laboured start by the team at this tournament.
Cote d’Ivoire are the best team in Africa now and many people respect them. But I have a big feeling that we will beat them on Sunday and progress to the semi-final. It is not about individual players, but the team. Zambia defeated Cote d'Ivoire last year when everyone tipped them to lift the 2012 AFCON. If Zambia could do it, why can't we do same now?
We have great players like the Ivorians who are also playing for big clubs in Europe and all of us are lifting our clubs like they are doing. We are poised to surprise all.
There will be some of Africa top strikers like Drogba, Emenike, Gervinho, yourself, Victor Moses, Aruna Kone on parade on Sunday. Should we expect a goals’ harvest?
I don’t expect a lot of goals in this game because we also have some great defensive midfielders and defenders to be very much involved in this game. It could be the game of 2013.
But the Elephants are one of the kings of the jungle.
And the Eagles are ready to prey on the Elephants.
Are you looking forward to start or even score in this game?
I can’t say now, but if I am given chance to play, I will do my best to lift the Eagles. We will give our best against to redeem ourselves and the fans should continue to support us.

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