Omeruo: AFCON 2015 Failure Was a Bitter Lesson for Eagles

Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, believes that the senior national team has learnt a big lesson from their failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Omeruo whose loan deal at Middlesbrough will expire at the end of the season described the failure as the worst moment of his football career.

“The moment I don’t want to remember in my career was when we failed to qualify for AFCON 2015. It was a very painful experience for me,” recalled the Chelsea player who is in contract at Stamford Bridge until 2018.

He however said that such mistakes of the past won’t be repeated again by the team

“I think this time things would be different, as we now know how painful it was to not qualify for a big tournament like the AFCON, I am sure we will get it right this time,” pledged Omeruo who exploits in Eagles road to the title at AFCON 2013 remain fresh in the minds of soccer loving Nigerians.

The Eagles’ defender who has played for all the national teams except the U23 team, remains grateful to God for all he has achieved in the game so far.

“I am happy and I give thanks to God for my achievements so far. I will say my success comes from God and the prayers from my family.

“So, I feel so happy and proud of representing Nigeria. I also have to thank my coach Stephen Keshi for trusting me, believing in me and giving me chance at a crucial period,”observed the soft-spoken but hard playing defender.

On his loan deal to Middlesbrough from Chelsea that will expire at the end of this season, Omeruo said it will afford him the chance of where to play next season.

“I still have a contract with Chelsea till 2018, so until that contract is finished, I remain a Chelsea player and we will see what happens at the end of the season,” stressed the Nigerian international to AfricanFootball. com

The junior of three Omeruos playing football, the Middlesbrough player describes his big brother, Christian, as a great influence on his career.

“My older brother, Christian, motivated me a lot at the beginning. He still remains my chief motivator. He encouraged me to take football seriously at some point because he wanted to go back to school and we needed to get support for the family,” concludes Omeruo.