Nigeria/Sierra Leone: Eagles Target Victory as Camp Bubbles
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This Day (Lagos)
9 October 2008
Posted to the web 9 October 2008
Dayo Thomas
Abuja
Nigeria's Super Eagles are determined to maintain their 100 percent record in the Angola/South Africa qualifying series when they tackle the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone this weekend.
Although the Eagles have already qualified for the final round of the campaign following their five straight victories in the Group IV series, the players are keen to make it six wins in a row in the final match of the group taking place at the National Stadium, Abuja.
The team, which had its full compliment of players present, took part in their first training session yesterday evening with the players showing the stuff that has seen them amass all the 15 points so far available.
Yesterday saw the arrival of the 'big boys' lead by skipper Nwankwo Kanu along with fellow England-based stars Yakubu Aiyegbeni and deputy skipper Joseph Yobo.
Kanu, who along with Yobo, missed the Eagles 1-0 road victory over South Africa last month, said he was delighted to be back having recovered from the injury, which prevented him from making the trip to Port Elizabeth, adding the players were looking forward to Saturday's clash.
"We won't be underrating them (Leone Stars) because we beat them in the first leg. No, we will be taking the game as seriously as possible because we would love to keep our form for the more important final phase of the campaign," said the Portsmouth star, who confirmed that all the players invited for the clash had arrived.
Yesterday morning, goalkeepers Austin Ejide and Dele Aiyenugba, defenders Taye Taiwo, Dele Adeleye, Apam Onyekachi, Danny Shittu, Chidi Odiah, midfielders Sani Kaita, Christian Obodo and Kalu Uche and forwards Osaze Odemwingie, Chinedu Obasi, Victor Obinna Nsofor and Joseph Akpala all took part in the early training session.
Those that took part in the evening session included Kanu, Yobo, Olufemi Ajilore, Aiyegbeni and Ikechukwu Uche.
Incidentally, Kanu's position tallied with that of Coach Shaibu Amodu, who at a press conference which took place earlier in the day, insisted that they would be going for maximum points in order to boost their chances of being seeded for the final round.
"It is a match we know we must win because getting 18 maximum points from this round will improve our chances of being seeded for the third and final phase of the qualifying. We are aware that performance in this round, as well as performance at the African Cup of Nations in Ghana and the FIFA ranking will determine the seeded teams. We hope to be one of them," said Amodu.
He revealed that the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has three different criteria for seeding teams for the qualifiers, which he explained thus: your performance at the last Nations Cup, the current standing of your National Team in the current FIFA rating and how many points your team was able to gather in the qualifying series, and the teams would now be selected base on the point they are able to get cumulatively.
Meanwhile, Amodu explained that he had exempted Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi from the match in response to the request from the team's manager.
"Why can't we accept to his request when there are several other players who can easily do the job that Mikel can do. You know the match is not that as important to the extent that a player cannot be excused if his club desperately needs him. This is the type of team we want to build where no player will be indispensable."
He said his trip to London was basically for that purpose where he will be able to build a good relationship with the club managers.
Amodu said that Chelsea manager, Filipe Scolari had expressed his willingness to assist him in whatever capacity that he may need as a coach. The Eagles handler also revealed that Scolari also promised to visit Nigeria whenever there was a FIFA free day when the Super Eagles will be playing a match. Apart from Scolari, Amodu also visited Everton's David Moyes where he had a good parley with him.
"My visit to Everton was so successful. It was arranged by Yakubu Aiyegbeni and we had a fruitful discussion. He particularly pleaded with us to always make sure that his players are forced to return to them after been released for a National assignment."
He said it is important for him as a manager to have this kind of sweet relationship with the players' managers, and he plans to carry out similar travels in the future to the other countries to parley with the other managers.
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"You know when the players know that I have a good relationship with their managers they will hardly play pranks."
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