African Football News – Nigeria captain Nwakwo Kanu has said his team can win the African Cup of Nations as they play their first game against back-to-back defending champions Egypt on Tuesday in Benguela.

The highly anticipated Group C opener promises to be a thriller and will be contested between two of Africa’s most successful national sides. The Egyptians have won the tournament six times while Nigeria have taken it twice.

Talking up his team’s chances, the Portsmouth forward said the Super Eagles are well drilled and will perform creditably against their opponents not minding their intimidating credentials.

“We are ready, Egypt or no Egypt. We have a mission in Angola and that is to do our best to win the Nations Cup and I think by God’s grace we are going to do that,” Kanu said in an interview with Complete Sports.

“Every team that is in Angola has the belief that they are going to win the cup. And for us especially, the urge to win is high and it is far more important for us because it has been a long time since we won the Nations Cup last. So this is the right platform for us to show that yes, we are indeed ready for the World Cup.”

The lanky 33-year-old striker has said he will be retiring from international football after this summer’s World Cup in South Africa and is hoping to cap an eventful career with a Nations Cup win as he wants to help usher in the future of Nigerian football.

“In life you don’t play forever, at some point you’ve got to give way for the younger ones to take over.”