Ex-Eagles hail Nigeria’s 2010 World Cup ticket
Yesterday at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, the Super Eagles defeated the Harambee Stars of Kenya 3-2 to qualify for the 2010 World Cup ahead of the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia who lost 0-1 to host Mozambique in the other group match. Reacting to Nigeria’s qualification, ex-international, Moses Kpakor, said although he had always […]
Yesterday at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, the Super Eagles defeated the Harambee Stars of Kenya 3-2 to qualify for the 2010 World Cup ahead of the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia who lost 0-1 to host Mozambique in the other group match.
Reacting to Nigeria’s qualification, ex-international, Moses Kpakor, said although he had always believed the Super Eagles would defeat Kenya, his fear was always whether Mozambique would be able to defeat or hold Tunisia to a draw.
He added that the Mozambique-Tunisia’ result did Nigerian’ World Cup ambition a lot of good.
“I am one of those who have always believed in the ability of the Super Eagles and Amodu Shuaibu to deliver the good. I know that it is when you write off the Eagles that they will come out to surprise you. And that is exactly what they have succeeded in doing in Kenya. When the going gets tougher, it is only the tough that get going.
“We have to thank the Mozambicans for helping us to defeat Tunisia that had not lost any match prior to the encounter. If they had lost the match, our victory would have not counted and the Tunisians would have been the ones celebrating now, not us.
Looking ahead, Kpakor advised the coaching crew to work very hard to correct the lapses noticed in the team before the next Nations Cup to be hosted by Angola, noting that the African championship should help Nigeria build a stronger team that will be able to face teams like Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain and others.
“Now that we have made it to the World Cup, what we need to do is to start organizing grade A friendly matches for the Super Eagles to put them in a proper shape for the South Africa 2010. It is unfortunate that we cannot afford to put the team together for a reasonable period of time, because almost all of them are foreign based. But good friendly matches will go a long way to prepare the team,” he advised.
Still savouring the joy of the qualification, Mutiu Adepoju, described the qualification as devine, saying the Eagles’ victory against the Harambee Stars and Mozambique’s triumph over Tunisia were such that few Nigerians would have expected.
According to the General Manger of 3SC FC, the qualification campaign was very difficult for the team, their handlers, the administrators and Nigerian football fans, adding that the pressure that every Nigerian had to go through from the beginning of the qualifier to the end was so palpable that the boys and their handlers had to grow grey hairs.
“The expectation of 140 million now that the boys have succeeded in getting the job done, though a bit late, is to start preparing for the next Nations Cup in January. In fact there is no time for us to waste. We have to do a lot to turn the team around. On their own part, the players need to change their attitude by showing more commitment towards national assignment,” he advised.
Former CAF Footballer of the year, Emmanuel Amunike, who could not hold back his happiness, congratulated the Super Eagles and their handlers for what they have achieved and called on the Nigerian Football Administrators to cut short their celebration and commence preparation for the 2010 World Cup.
“We don’t have much time to celebrate at all. The team is far from what we expect it to be, especially considering the type of opposition that they are going to face in South Africa. In view of that, we have to start preparing the team for Angola 2010, which will help us to know whether we are ready for the World Cup or not.