Rustenburg — A member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee, Dr. Shehu Adamu has urged Nigerians to dismiss fears that the Super Eagles will be bundled out of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa by Cote d'Ivoire, saying rather, the Eagles will on Sunday prove pundits wrong by beating the Ivorians to pick the semi-final ticket.

Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire will clash in the third quarter-final match of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium here in Rustenburg, with many saying the Eagles will be defeated.

But Adamu, a former Commissioner of Sports in Kaduna State, said the Eagles will shock their West African neighbours to reach the last four on Sunday.

"I believe that the Super Eagles will advance to the semi finals against all odds. Many have written off the Nigerian team but I believe Super Eagles will shock the Ivorians on Sunday. It is football and you cannot write off any team. Anything can happen and expect a shocker", he said.

Consequently, he dismissed the claims that Eagles will lose scandalously as he said Nigerians should remain optimistic despite the array of stars on parade in the Ivorian squad.