11th March, 2013
Ahead of this month’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Calabar, Secretary General of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association, CECAFA, Nicholas Musonye has warned the Super Eagles not to be carried away by their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, victory in South Africa and underrate the East African team.
According to the football administrator who is representing Kenya in CECAFA, Nigeria’s victory in South Africa was not enough reason for Kenya to fear the Eagles. He noted that Kenya will respect the coach Stephen Keshi-led Eagles, but this won’t stop the Harambee Stars from creating an upset against Nigeria in Calabar.
“We are preparing our team for the tough match against the Eagles in Calabar. We know Nigeria are the current African champions which will make the match to be a tough one. I want to say that a World Cup qualifying match is going to be a different match entirely,” said Musonye on BrilaFM early today.
He further said that despite parading players who are based in Africa in the match, Kenya are confident of picking at least a point from the match in Calabar.
Kenya are proposing a friendly against Norway before the crucial match against the Eagles. Kenya coach, Adel Amrouche, said in Nairobi over the weekend that he intends to use the game against Norway to assess the quality of the foreign-based players and some of the local players.
The former Burundi coach also stressed that the African champions Nigeria are beatable only if his team can have the belief in themselves.
“Football results come with hard work and belief,” he added. “Nigeria is beatable, away and home, if and only the mentality of our players is right.”
Meanwhile, 10 out of 24 invited home-based Eagles for the Kenya match have arrived at their Abuja camp today.
According to media officer of the Eagles, Ben Alaiya, other invited local players are expected later today after they played for their respective clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL that kicked off weekend across the country. Alaiya informed that the team will hold their first training session tomorrow.
—Bamidele Olowosagba