Ambrose: We Have No Excuse For Failure

Celtic Defender Insists Eagles Are In High Spirit

Super Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose has boasted that Lone Star of Liberia cannot stop Nigeria from participating in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals slated for South Africa next year.

The Celtic of Scotland defender who expressed delight in returning to the senior national team setup added that the Super Eagles will have no excuse not to defeat Liberia in Calabar on Saturday to secure the Nations Cup ticket.

The former Ashdod of Israel stopper who spoke to the media exclusively on Wednesday said:
“I feel happy to be back to the national team. It’s always a fantastic moment reuniting with your national teammates and I must say that we’re looking forward to the game with high expectation, and I believe with hard work, God will answer our prayers come Saturday," begins Ambrose who featured for Kaduna United in the
Nigeria Premier League before moving to Israel.

“We have worked really hard for this important game. We know how crucial it is for us which is why we all came to camp well on time.

“The atmosphere here in camp is wonderful; we’ll give the game our very best to ensure that we pick the ticket. We will have no excuse not to deliver the 2013 Nations cup ticket.

“Personally, the 2013 Nations Cup is important to me because it will be my first shot at the competition. So, I’m doing my best to ensure that we qualify.

“Playing in the Nations Cup finals will be good for my career. Every player looks forward to it, and I cannot be different.”

 The Celtic defender underscores the importance of the Super Eagles playing in the 2013 Nations Cup finals:

“Football makes Nigerians happy," he reckons. "Tt is a unifying factor in the country. So, we want to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians by ensuring that we defeated Liberia on Saturday to qualify for the 2013 AFCON championship finals proper.”

The centre-back would also speak on life in his new club, Celtic, maintaining that Rabiu Ibrahim, as well as the coach of the Scottish team influenced his settling down early in his new abode.

“Every player wants to move forward. When the opportunity came for me to move, I grabbed it and I’m grateful to Rabiu Ibrahim and the coach of Celtic as well as my team-mates there who played a big role in helping me settle down fast.

“I had great moments in Israel, but when the opportunity came I felt it's time for me to move on.

Yes, Celtic is a much bigger club than Ashdod, and better in every sense. So, I’m glad to have taken the chance to move over there,” Ambrose concludes.