Battle Of Madagascar: S’ Eagles Depart, Target Victory

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will depart for Antananarivo aboard a chartered aircraft this  afternoon for Sunday’s 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Madagascar.

The Nigeria Football Federation has concluded arrangements with Air Nigeria to airlift the team in one of its best aircraft, with emphasis on comfort for the players and technical officials ahead of the must-win game.

Sunday’s game has become a must-win as the Super Eagles lie second in Group B of the qualifying series with only seven points from four matches, three points behind Guinea’s Syli Nationale, who are at home at the weekend against Ethiopia.

A slip in Antananarivo will be disastrous, and Head Coach, Samson Siasia has rallied his troops for the big challenge in the Indian Ocean.

“It is a big match for us not minding whatever is the quality of the opposition. Our objective is to secure a big win that will put us in very good stead to qualify for the African Cup of Nations. Surely, we have no reason to under-rate our opponents. But we must play the game like a Cup final”, said Siasia.

Nigeria, ranked 38 in the world by FIFA, should be favourites against the Barea, ranked 155 and without a previous Cup of Nations final appearance.

Siasia also clarified the air on assumptions that his players would have their minds on the high-profile international friendly against Argentina coming up in Dhaka, Bangladesh two days later.

“I can assure you that no one will be thinking of the Argentina match until we are done with Madagascar on Sunday afternoon. We will only begin to think of the friendly match when we are airborne towards Bangladesh.

“Our team is getting these invitations to play the big teams because we play in major tournaments. So, the priority is on qualification for the Cup of Nations. After taking the three points in Antananarivo, we can then begin to think of how to approach the game with Argentina”.

Sunday’s match at the Stade Municipal de Mahamasina will begin at 2.30pm Madagascar time (12.30pm Nigeria time).

The Argentina versus Nigeria match comes up inside the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday evening.

The Super Eagles’ delegation will be flown on an all-business-class-seats’ jet from Antananarivo on the night of Sunday, September 4, arriving in Dhaka on Monday morning, to train on Monday evening at the match venue.

“Its their future and that is very important so if they cannot finish on time, they will be excused to join us in Madagascar,” Siasia said.

Yesterday morning, 12 of the 13 players in camp trained at the Abuja National Stadium. Emmanuel Emenike was excused as he arrived just before the team departed to the stadium while striker Brown Ideye arrived at the hotel just as the squad got back from training.

Players in camp are: John Mikel Obi, Victor Anichebe, Ahmed Musa, Fengor Ogude, Dele Adeleye, Joel Obi, Peter Utaka, Chinedu Obasi, Obinna Nsofor, Solomon Okoronkwo, Dele Aiyenugba, Emmanuel Emenike, Nosa Igiebor, Brown Ideye.

Ike Uche in action for Nigeria in a Nations Cup qualifier match