Ghana Friendly, Preparation Towards Madagascar Game – Siasia

Chief coach, Samson Siasia says the Super Eagles friendly match with the Black Stars of Ghana in London is a preparation towards the crucial Group B Africa Cup of Nations qualifier coming up in Madagascar on September 3.

Siasia, in an interview with The Tide Sports at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa said “we are prepared for the Ghana friendly match and we have picked our players and hopefully the players will come out to play with enthusiasm and dedication. I think for now, we have a very good team.”

He assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles would go to Madagascar with high hope and that with the kind of players assembled, “we will come back with a win,” adding, “hopefully, we will do well and we will qualify for the Nations World Cup.”

According to him, the Madagascar match is a more crucial one, while “the Ghana match is just going to have fun, but it’s a preparation towards the Madagascar match.”

Asking Nigerians for their encouragement and prayers, the chief coach appealed to the people to forget about  the past and focus on the future matches to come, saying “we did the best we could at Ethiopia. That we did not carry the cup is not the end of the world but the issue is that we have to qualify.”

In another interview, Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo said “we are going to make sure we do our best and hopefully, God is going to crown our efforts.”

Yobo said they have learnt from their past mistakes but that if they win the Ghana match and lose the Madagascar game, it will be a disaster.

As he put it, “we must make sure we get the three points,” pointing out that the inclusion of Super Eagles striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie in the selection is good because he is one of their key players.

“This is a new beginning and we are growing. We keep getting better every day, Yobo stressed and disclosed that he will soon come up with a programme aimed at promoting football in his home state, Rivers.

Shedie Okpara