25th March, 2013
Deputy skipper of the Super Eagles, Vincent Enyeama, was full of praises for his teammates after they pulled off a late equaliser against Kenya at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar Southsouth Nigeria, last Saturday.
Enyeama, who said the team had an unlucky day despite having better possession of the ball, declared that the Eagles will make up for the flop in Calabar with a resounding result when both teams meet in the return leg in Nairobi in June.
“We tried all we could in Calabar, but it was simply one of those days when you can’t explain what really went wrong.
“We had more possession but they scored a goal and made us chase the game. In the return leg, we will pay them back and get a better result for Nigerians,” he said.
Enyeama, who wore the captain’s armband against the Harambee Stars, also praised the Super Eagles for their fighting spirit.
“Some teams would have given up in the second half but we kept fighting and eventually the goal came. If we had a few more minutes we would have won the game but we have a return leg to play and we would be ready for them.”
Meanwhile, President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari and Chairman Technical Committee of the federation, Christopher Green, have expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will fly over Kenya in the return leg of the World Cup qualifier holding in Nairobi in June.
Maigari, who spoke immediately after the game in Calabar, said it was a difficult game because the Kenyans came with a match plan to frustrate the African champions but were overwhelmed by the character of the Eagles.
“It was always going to be a difficult game because the Kenyans came to frustrate us but we have a team that has character and at the end of the day they were surprised at the manner we held our own even when they were telling themselves that they had won the match.”
Maigari assured that the team will be better prepared for the return leg in Nairobi and urged Nigerians to be supportive of the team.
Green, on his part, warned some of the players who did not put in their best to know what it takes to play for the Super Eagles.
“We have an abundance of talents across the world but we must be sure to make the right choices of players and that is why my committee is working closely with the coaches to make sure that the best players are picked at all times,” he said.