Siasia’s Eagles, A Hope For Nigeria —Ikpeba

Former Nigerian international, Victor Ikpeba says the Super Eagles paraded by Samson Siasia in Wednesday’s international friendly against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone have rekindled hope that the future is bright for the senior national team.

The Eagles, captained by Joseph Yobo beat Sierra Leone 2-1 in front of the vociferous Lagos fans at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria.

Ikpeba, who played for Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup in 1994 in USA and 1998 in France, while assessing the team said that he saw a change in the Eagles unlike their hopeless situation after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ikpeba, who won the African Footballer of the Year award in 1997 said: “We have not had it so good like this. This team that played Sierra Leone have given us a hope. This is what we have been waiting for.

“For a team that trained for only one day to come out with a performance like this, I think we should wait patiently for what would be the result of the rebuilding process of the new coach.

“The home-based players really put up a good show that a reasonable coach would not see them as second class players.

“With more playing time, I believe the creative blending of the home-based and the professional players will give the Eagles the required superstar status, known of our national team in the past,” he said.

Ikpeba concluded his comment on the Eagles saying: “The ultimate target is for Siasia to present a team to beat in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. And, with the way Siasia started with these Eagles in their friendly match against the Leone Stars, the team will surely get there soon.”

—Taiwo  Adelu