Former Nigeria captain, Kanu Nwankwo believes the Super Eagles can put its underwhelming display against Iran behind them and win its remaining two group games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Kanu played for Nigeria between 1994 and 2010 and is widely regarded as a cult hero amongst Nigerian football fans.
He represented the country at three World Cups (1998, 2002 and 2010) and famously captained the Olympic team that won gold in the football event of the 1996 games in Atlanta.
He is not worried about the 0-0 draw against Team Melli and says the African champions can bounce back after a less-than-convincing display against Iran on Monday.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year also insists the Super Eagles can finish as winners of Group F with wins over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina in its next two games.
“We can beat any team. We can beat Bosnia and we can also beat Argentina. But to achieve this, we must work hard,” the 37-year-old said.
The optimism of “Papillo is not shared by many of his compatriots following Monday’s dour 0-0 draw against unheralded Iran in Curitiba but the former Arsenal man is adamant it is too early to write off the chances of the African champions.
“It’s too early to write off Nigeria’s chances. It’s just our first game and we have to now move forward.
“We have to learn from it, draw from the positives and move on,î he said.
The Super Eagles will meet Bosnia’s Dragons on Saturday before completing their preliminary campaign against Argentina on June 25.