Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi and Team
Skipper at a press conference with Zambian
coach
By SR Sports
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
made it clear on Monday that it does not
expect anything less than an outright win by
the Nigerian Super Eagles when they face
the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in the final
Group C match of the 29th Africa Cup of
Nations on Tuesday.
Draws in two games so far have now
rendered Tuesday’s encounter a must-win
for Nigeria and the NFF says there is no
excuse for the players and technical crew
not to do Nigeria proud at the tournament.
Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity
Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama, said: “This
team has received tremendous support from
the Government of Nigeria, the football
federation and the good and passionate
people of our country. There is nothing the
players or the Head Coach and his crew
have requested for that we have failed to
provide."
“After qualifying for this championship, the
team has played a number of friendly
matches and everything that is needed to
motivate players and officials have been
provided for them. All that is left now is
for the team to go all out and show a high
level of commitment and patriotic fervor in
getting the job done.”
The NFF organized top-class friendly
matches for the Super Eagles in the run-up
to this tournament, with the team playing
against Venezuela in the United States of
America, Catalonia in Barcelona and Cape
Verde (one of the first teams to reach the
quarter finals here) in Portugal. They also
played against Dutch team FC Rotterdam
and Portuguese club Farense during a 20-
day final training camp in Faro, Portugal.
Before the kick-off of the championship
and despite limited financial power, the
NFF ensured payment of salaries of all
members of the technical crew till the end
of this month.
Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee,
Barrister Chris Green, also agreed that
there is no excuse for the team not to work
hard and do like-never-before to give back
lost honor to Nigeria on Tuesday.
“There is no reason whatsoever for the
team to fail. The NFF has done its part,
done almost everything required of the
federation to train a team for this
competition and motivate that team."
“The draws against Burkina Faso, and
Zambia were uncalled for, but those
matches are behind us and we have a huge
opportunity to put things right against the
Ethiopians.”
The Super Eagles have savored the
beautiful environment of their Hunters’
Rest home since arriving in Rustenburg on
Sunday afternoon, ahead of the testy duel
with the fast-paced, tireless Antelopes of
Ethiopia.
But Barrister Green says: “We have to be
very careful against the Ethiopians. They
run hard and forever and do the short-
passing game brilliantly. But with the
personnel that we have here, we should be
able to contain them and get the goals we
need to reach the quarter finals.”
Skipper Joseph Yobo has recovered from
injury he sustained in the first game
against Burkina Faso and could come into
the fray on Tuesday, with youngster
Kenneth Omeruo sure to fill in at right
back, earlier occupied by midfielder Ogenyi
Onazi against the Zambians last Friday.
NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa
Amadu said on Monday: “The Super Eagles
should just go into Tuesday’s game and show
why they are super. Nigerians have lost
patience. We have had enough of draws, and
it is time to start winning.”
Cup holders Zambia will take on Burkina
Faso’s Etalons at Nelspruit’s Mbombela
Stadium simultaneously on Tuesday.
Depending on results of Tuesday’s matches,
the Super Eagles will either stay in
Rustenburg on their way home or return to
Mbombela for Sunday’s quarter finals.


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