26th July, 2013
Sports enthusiasts in Nigeria have charged the Home-based Eagles of Nigeria to go for outright win as they take on the Elephants of Ivory Coast on Saturday.
The Eagles will take on the Ivorians in the return leg of the African Nations Championship, CHAN, scheduled for Abidjan.
The enthusiasts said they were confident that the Eagles would win and qualify for the championship.
Mohammed Sanusi, Director of Competitions, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, said every Nigerian is praying for the Eagles and believes that they are battle ready to win the match.
“The challenge is for them to contain the home crowd which they are used to and to bear in mind that when you go to play an away match, one has to expect all sort of antics, which of course is not new to them.
“Keshi must caution the boys to be very careful with careless fouls, especially those very close to their goal area, because decisions might not go their way in such cases. Sanusi urged the boys to go all out and attack their opponents stressing, “the best form of defence is to attack.
“As they attack, they must be careful to defend counter-attacks very well; but, if they sit back and wait for their opponents to attack, then, it could be very dangerous,’’ he said.
Tijani Babangida, an ex-International, said Keshi had instilled so much confidence in the team which would enable them to carry the day on Saturday. “I watched the first leg in Kaduna and I will not say the Eagles had a perfect game, but the number of goals scored vindicated the boys; we couldn’t have asked for anything more,” he said.
Babangida noted that the expectations for the game were very high, and that “Ivory Coast may pose a threat to our ambition.
“But I am confident that our boys are going to score enough goals to ensure Nigeria’s qualification for the Championship.”
“We will definitely qualify on Saturday.’’ he said.
Mr. Chidi Okenwa, a member of the Organising and Disciplinary Committee of the NFF, noted that it would be a herculean task.
He noted that Keshi already knew the condiments of the Ivorian football which would definitely be a plus for Nigeria.
“The team representing us there will be playing under a coach who incidentally started his professional football in Cote d’Ivoire.
“He knows and will adequately address all the antics of the Ivorians.
“I see the Super Eagles firing from all angles to give us victory,’’ he said.