Berahino Looking Forward To Facing Etebo In Egypt

Stoke City of England forward Sadio Berahino has revealed he can’t wait to face his teammate and Super Eagles midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo when the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in Egypt this summer.

Both countries have been drawn against each other in Group B of the continent’s flagship tournament along with Madagascar and Guinea which has gotten Berahino extremely excited about the prospects of representing his fatherland.

“It’s amazing. I cannot find the words. I need to take myself away for a moment to try and properly realise what has happened because I have not really been able to do that yet.

“It was crazy from start to finish, from the moment we went to the stadium until when we left. It’s been totally unimaginable.

“I can only thank God for the fact that I have always wanted to represent a team at a big tournament, I can do with my homeland. It’s perfect. It’s a dream come true,” he told Radio France International.

The former England junior international pledged his allegiance to Burundi last year.

Since then he has been donating a significant part of his wages to the country he fled as a little boy  during the civil war which claimed the life of his father.

Meanwhile Etebo who followed proceedings from his base equally welcomed the challenge.

“What a group for Nigeria,” he posted on Twitter.

The tournament will start on June 23, the first since the decision to move the competition from its normal January time to the summer. It has also expanded from 16 to 24 teams.