Alhassan Ibrahim: I am getting closer to my Super Eagles dream
How ready are the Flying Eagles for the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations which begins on Saturday in Niamey, Niger Republic?
We are fully ready for this competition. As you may be aware, we have been in camp for several months to prepare for this championship. Our coaches have worked hard to prepare us very well. Having tested our readiness against some local clubs, I can tell you that we are battle ready. We are like one united family so we shall play for one another. By the special grace of God, we are not going to disappoint Nigerians.
Are you saying Nigerians should expect nothing but victory from the Flying Eagles?
Expectations from Nigerians are always high so we are quite aware of what they want from us. Without any doubt, they want us to win so we are going to do our best to bring back the Cup. It is not going to be easy so we need the prayers of Nigerians. Flying Eagles are always the team to beat in this championship, so we are not ignorant of what we are going to face in Niamey.
Have you set any personal target? How many goals are you targeting?
I am the number 10 man so I am a kind of playmaker. I do most of the ball distribution for the team. It is going to be team work so I am not looking at the number of goals I will score. If I provide assists for my team mates to score and we win, that to me is the most important thing. If I score all the goals but we don’t win, that will not make any sense to me. I am praying to God for a good championship. If I score goals, I will be very happy. However, my primary concern is victory for the team.
What is your assessment of the other teams that are in the same group with the Flying Eagles, that is South Africa, host Niger and Burundi?
I want to say that all the eight teams that have qualified for the final have equal chances of winning the trophy. We are favoured to qualify from the group but you and I know the football rivalry that exists between Nigeria and South Africa. They will give us a tough match same as the host nation and Burundi. So to answer your question, I will say all the teams will be given equal attention.
How confident are you that your team will handle the pressure from the home fans when you play against Niger Republic?
Although we are young players, we are professional football players so we are used to playing in front of different types of fans. Personally, I play better when the stadium is filled up. I feel more motivated when fans cheer me up. I know that our opponents will enjoy the backing of their fans but that is not going to be a problem.
What are you expecting from your opening match with Burundi on Saturday (today)?
We are expecting nothing but a convincing victory because if we start well, we would be in a better position to approach the remaining group matches. It is always good to start any competition with victory.
How much support has the team received from the Nigeria Football Federation?
I want to commend the NFF for ensuring that we get the necessary preparation. They have provided us with the basic things we need to prepare for this championship. I also want to thank the coaches, Paul Aigbogun, Abdul Maikaba and Abubakar Bala for their hard work. They have been most supportive. I pray we put smiles on their faces by winning the trophy.
Do you believe a good outing for you in Niamey will open the door to Super Eagles for you?
Let me confess to you that I am beginning to believe that I will soon play for the Super Eagles. The coach of the team, Gernot Rohr attended some of our training sessions and he was visibly happy with what he saw. I am sure he took note of some of the players in the team. Right from when I was small, I dreamt of playing for the Super Eagles. I can tell you that playing for Flying Eagles has taken me closer to my dream. I hope to build on this achievement. I can’t wait to play for the Super Eagles.
You also play for Kano Pillars. What is it like playing for such a big club in the Nigeria Professional Football League?
Playing for Kano Pillars is something special. It is a great privilege. The club has helped me to realise my dreams. It is for this reason that I am always ready to give my all when I am playing for Pillars. I couldn’t have reached my present position without God and Kano Pillars football club.
What can you say about Kano Pillars fans?
They are really amazing. They are wonderful fans. If you remember, I told you that when there are fans in the stadium, I play better. I had Kano Pillars in mind when I made that statement. They have made most of us to get used to playing in front of vociferous fans.
Have you overcome the disappointment of losing the 2018 Aiteo Cup finals to Enugu Rangers?
To be honest with you, I don’t like to discuss that match. It took all of us a long time to recover from that shocking defeat. Imagine we were three goals up and yet in less than fifteen minutes, we lost the match. It was indeed a sad day for all of us in Kano Pillars. However, we have moved on from there.
Any plans to compensate the government and people of Kano State?
Yes, our target this season is to win the league and the Aiteo Cup. If we are able to do this, then I am sure our fans will forgive us. I know the pain we caused them. It was not intentional. We actually wanted to make a name for the state and ourselves. I call on the fans to continue to support us. We shall make amends.