Morakinyo Abodunrin
February 2, 2024
Foremost facility expert and CEO of Monimichelle Group, Ebi Egbe, has said the Super Eagles are now on the cusp of winning the much-wanted Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title after decimating Cameroon en route to today’s quarter-final duel against the Palancas Negras of Angola in Abidjan.
Winners in 1980, 1994 and 2013, the Super Eagles go into the contest at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan with eyes fixed on semi-final spot and Egbe reckons the coach Jose Peseiro-led side will dominate the southern African team with the benefit of playing on a good pitch.
“The Super Eagles are moving slow and steady progressively,” Egbe told NationSports after the Eagles clinched the quarter-final ticket against the indomitable Lions. “And we won the game against Cameroon.”
Tonight’s contest between Nigeria and Angola is being regarded as a contest between two teams that have improved tremendously at the on-going 34th AFCON, Egbe, who is credited with fixing some notable grounds in Nigeria, including the iconic Onikan Stadium now known as Mobolaji Johnson Arena, believes the super Eagles will comport themselves well against the Angolans.
“The Super Eagles are adapting very well to the pitch and I am happy with the improvement of our elite team going into the quarter final,” Egbe noted.
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Addressing the issue of poor pitches which has for long impeded the standard of the game in Nigeria and Africa, Egbe said Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu should be praised for being courageous for banning the distribution and use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) and other single-use plastics in the state, adding that, unknown to many, those items are equally damaging when used in fixing football pitches.
“I’m happy that Lagos state has banned the use of this cancer-causing food container that produces carcinogens when in contact with warm food, the same way it crumbles car tyre granules used for artificial grass infill for football pitches, since it also produces this same cancer-causing carcinogen when in contact with the African hot weather,” Egbe states.
“It is interesting to note that legislation had been passed on the total ban of these crumbed rubber infill that produces carcinogens for synthetic turf football-playing surfaces in Europe.
“Europe is currently on a phase off period for these 100% plastic football pitches.
“Africa must not be the dumping ground for these carcinogens-producing rubber granules synthetic pitches. “Governor Sanwo-Olu deserves a big pat on the back for this bold step,” he enthused.
