Coach Stephen Keshi
Keshi was asked to react to the statement credited to French Coach Didier Dechamps who said the World Cup was open at a news conference on Sunday.
``The tournament has been great, full of surprises as some of the teams that could have been tipped to get far had since been knocked out.
``In the past editions, one could easily predict certain teams that could be tipped to get far, but not in this ongoing tournament, some top teams had since been eliminated.
``Even the hosts, Brazil struggled to stay on. They are not even sure of winning as hosts,’’ he said.
On whether the high temperatures in Brasilia could be of any advantage to his team, he said it would be a mistake to assume that since they were from Africa, the weather would be of advantage.
The weather would not be of any advantage. Most of my players are from Europe.
For instance, a player like Emmanuel Emenike has a hectic time coping with the heat in Porto Alegre.
``We will strive to play well to win.’’
Asked if the strong presence of Black people in Brazil would rally supporters to his team, he said that in Porto Alegre, the Eagles played against a highly partisan stadium filled by the Argentines, we still played our game to survive.
``It will be well if they can support us, but with or without them, we have resolved not to be bothered about anybody’s support.
``I have never even noticed many things about Brazil because it has always been from the hotel to the airport and the pitch and back to the hotel,’’ he said.