Kuffour relishes open Cup of Nations

Former Ghana international Sammy Kuffour believes no nation at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations could be underestimated.

Speaking to The Guardian, Kuffour said simply qualifying to the 28th edition of the continental showpiece – which begins on January 21 and is being hosted by Gabon the Equatorial Guinea – was proof enough that a nation could lift the trophy.Kuffour was also firm in his belief that the tournament will be unaffected by Nigeria’s absence.”We have to respect teams that qualified for the 2012 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon because they are good to have made it to the last 16 in the continent,” the former Bayern Munich defender said.”If Nigeria did not qualify, they have to accept it in good faith because from 1984 to 1992, Ghana did not qualify for the Nations Cup. That countries like Nigeria, Cameroon and Egypt did not make it to the 2012 Nations Cup showed that other nations are working to demystify the super powers of the game in Africa.”Kuffour is confident, however, that Nigeria could rediscover their old form and qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.”What Nigeria needs to do is to put themselves together and begin to rebuild and now that they have Stephen Keshi as the coach, I believe they can get back to their form again,” he said. “Ghana could not qualify for the 2004 Nations Cup but made it to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. I think this can also happen to Nigeria that if they don’t feature in 2012 Nations Cup, they can qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.”