Members of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Sunday expressed surprise at the elimination of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon by Cote d'Ivoire in the last quarterfinal match of the ongoing African Cup of Nations Saturday.

Speaking to PANA at their training ground here, a cross section of the Nigerian team admitted preparing for another confrontation with the Cameroonians they eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2004 edition in Tunisia.

But as fate will have it, the Super Eagles will now play the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire in the semi-finals at the Alexandria stadium next Tuesday.

The Ivorians snatched the semi-final slot from the Cameroonians after a one-all draw and nearly two dozens penalty shots that followed extra 30 minutes of playing time.

"We were prepared to give the Cameroonians another shock of their life because we know fully well that they will be gunning for a revenge while we wanted to consolidate. Anyway, that is one of the surprises in football," said Captain Joseph Yobo.

But the Nigerians concurred that Cote d'Ivoire was 'no push over' because they also have a strong tradition in African football, and noted that to underrate a team that is going to the World Cup in Germany was 'like digging ones own grave'.

Striker Nwakwo Kanu said Cameroon had "become a nightmare to Nigerian football but of late we have caught up with them in the battle of supremacy, hence another win would have extended the run the same way they did to us in the last few years".

Commenting on their semi-final opponent, Kanu cautioned: "Don't forget, Cote d' Ivoire are former champions and are very strong side too and playing against them will be another cracker for us, but I want to assure the millions of Nigerians back home that we are equal to the task."