Juwon Oshaniwa : Eagles ready for battle of Blantyre

Against Namibia, Eagles dominated play and created over a dozen chances but managed to convert only one in the dying minutes when power playing forward, Ikechukwu Uche fired home a left footer from close range. Today’s match therefore provides the opportunity for the team to not only win and consolidate its position on the table […]

Against Namibia, Eagles dominated play and created over a dozen chances but managed to convert only one in the dying minutes when power playing forward, Ikechukwu Uche fired home a left footer from close range.

Today’s match therefore provides the opportunity for the team to not only win and consolidate its position on the table but also atone for the heart-rending misses in Calabar.

The players themselves are aware that the task at hand is daunting but have expressed optimism that they would step up their game in order to save Nigerian fans the pains of having to wait so late to celebrate.

Shot! had exclusive interview with Sharks FC of Port-Harcourt diminutive but hard tackling defender, Juwon Oshaniwa who said the Flames of Malawi will not stop Eagles from putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

The player who likes to join the attack at every given opportunity hinged his confidence on what he described as the high spirit in the team’s camp and determination to pick the maximum points in far away Blantyre.

He said: “We are going to keep improving.  We are determined to correct the mistakes we made in our match against Namibia. Although this is an away match, we are sure of picking the maximum points.

“The spirit is high here in camp and we want to believe that God will not let us down. We have been working really hard and surely by the special grace of God, we shall come out victorious there in Malawi”.

He said even against the Brave Warriors, it was not the wish of the players to cause Nigerian football fans such tension. “It was not our intention to keep Nigerians fans waiting for that long but things happen like that sometimes. We all wanted to score as many goals as possible. This time around, by the Grace of God, the goals will come early and Nigerian fans would not have to wait for too long”.

Oshaniwa however said the players know they will have to brace up because there are no more underdogs in African football. “We are going to redouble our efforts because we are aware of the fact that there are no more minnows in football. Every team you meet is determined to make a point. This is to say it is not going to be easy against Malawi but whatever happens, we shall beat them. We are going to give them a good fight”.

Juwon in addition commended Keshi for showing uncommon confidence in the ability of home based players to perform at the highest stage. “Coach Keshi deserves commendation because before now, many people thought there are no more home based players who can play for this country. However, with his innovation which is beginning to yield fruits, most Nigerians now know that there is quality in the domestic league. There are so many good players in the NPL. All they need is the opportunity to play. There are more than a million good players here in Nigeria who can represent this country”.

Furthermore, the Sharks of Port-Harcourt star player was quick to condemn calls in some quarters that foreign based players should be relegated to the back ground in the new scheme of things. “Why should I support such a suggestion? These are our big brothers. Moreover every one of us is aiming to play professional football abroad. You don’t expect me to say such. Does it mean when we eventually find ourselves there, we should be discarded? I don’t support such school of thought. We have to work together with the foreign based players to achieve our goal which is to win laurels for Nigeria.

“They have been around before us so we have a lot to learn from them. They are our seniors but they also have respect for us because as we play, they learn from us as well”.

Despite injury worries, the Super Eagles are upbeat ahead of this afternoon’s clash at the 40,000-capacity Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. On March 29, 2003 when the two sides met at the same venue, it was returnee, John Utaka who scored the lone goal that gave Eagles victory over the Flames.