Super Eagles, Angola Test Might In Abuja

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, consisting of home-based players will today begin the tortuous journey of earning a place in the standing team under Coach Stephen Keshi, and winning back the confidence of Nigerians as they take on Angola at the Abuja National Stadium in a friendly match.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in a bid to encourage fans to be at the stadium has decided to throw the gates open, free of charge.

It is now left for Keshi and his boys to really rise up to the occasion and make a positive statement and put themselves in good stead for the task of qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup and 2014 World Cup.

Today’s game will be the third international friendly that new Coach Stephen Keshi will take charge of, following a 0-0 draw with Botswana’s Zebras in Benin City on November 12 and 2-0 defeat of Zambia’s Chipolopolo in Kaduna on November 15 last year.

Presently, the Eagles’ camp brims with 25 highly-motivated and focused players whose commitment to the cause has been hailed by Coach Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation.

Since starting his residential training programme for the home boys in Abuja in December 2011, Coach Keshi’s team has played a range of kick-abouts with some local clubs and on Wednesday, defeated Premier League side, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi 3-1 at the mainbowl of the National Stadium, Abuja.

Amadu said in Abuja on Monday: “It is important that at this time, we should make concerted efforts to employ the acknowledged power of football to unite all Nigerians.

“The result of Wednesday’s match is not what is important; what is important is using this match to evoke patriotic fervour in our people, while the home boys will get opportunity to showcase their abilities with a view to being picked for the 2013 African Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda next month.”

The king: Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry after scoring the winner against Leads United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup on Monday