Pretoria, Jan 5 : Coach of Nigeria's football team Sunday Oliseh on Tuesday expressed utmost optimism about his team's performance at the forthcoming African Nations Championship in Rwanda, saying his lads will be a hard nut to crack.

The coach said at the kick-off whistle that his boys will hit the ground running till end of the tourney which commences on January 16, reports Xinhua.

"We have a very good team, I am sure the Super Eagles will do well in Rwanda," he said.

He said the team, camped here, has prepared adequately to overcome all challenges posed by opponents and take the trophy back home. The team is expected to travel to Rwanda from its training camp here.

Nigeria are drawn in Group C of the competition alongside Tunisia, Niger and Guinea.