Collins: My teammates helped me to adjust against South Africa

Super Eagles defender Jamilu Collins has revealed that he felt a little awkward at the start of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final tie with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa but that he was helped to quickly adjust by his teammates.

Collins was the first choice for the left back position before the start of the AFCON but he got injured a day before the start of the competition and had to delay his competition bow until the last eight encounter with South Africa.

The Paderborn of Germany defender told SportingLife that it was difficult for him to cope while he was out injured and that he was named in the starting lineup for the quarter-final tie he was elated.

He said after the initial struggle he was able to put up a good performance and played his role well in pocketing South African winger, Percy Tau.

“It was a challenge for me but I thank God the team won,” Collins told SportingLife.ng.

“It wasn’t about me alone but the team. My teammates helped me to settle down in the game and we were able to put a good shift against South Africa.”

The soft-spoken player expressed his gratitude to God for ensuring that he marked his first AFCON with a place in the last four already with the Eagles and with a chance to win it if they beat Algeria in Sunday’s semi-final tie.

“It is really exciting and I thank God for the opportunity and grace to play in my first AFCON semi-final. I never doubted our strength.

“I didn’t know if it will go to the extra-time even though we didn’t want that but we know we can get something out of the game. I was so excited because for me I thought it was over at that stage.

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“It is a thing of joy of-course we are playing for our country and for our fans.”