‘Arsenal Friendly Good For Super Eagles’

Soccer fans have commended the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) for arranging a friendly match between the Super Eagles and the Arsenal FC of London on August 5 in Abuja.

They said that the friendly game with one of the English Premiership leaders would help in the rebuilding process of the national team being coached by Stephen Keshi.

Tunde Disu, a former Flying Eagles’ coach, urged the Super Eagles to learn from the match which he described as a good initiative of the NFA.

Disu told newsmen in Lagos that “it is good for our boys to play the club. I do not see anything wrong with playing Arsenal.

“For me, they are better than some African countries. We are playing a club of high calibre that plays good football and it is a welcomed development.

“Football is all about entertainment and I know we will see good football on that day,’’ he said.

He also advised the Super Eagles not to underestimate their ability, saying that with consistency and determination they could surprise their counterparts and fans.

“It is good for our team to test and know their ability because from there the technical crew will know areas to work on.

“It will also be good experience for the coaches because Arsene Wenger is a good coach and it will be part of learning for the technical crew,’’ he said.

A former Super Eagles player, Edema Fuludu, also commended the proposed friendly match, saying it will help the team to get better.

Fuludu, the Head Coach of Warri Wolves FC, said that the Super Eagles should embrace the opportunity.

“It’s not a bad thing even if we play our domestic club here. It will give the players the opportunity to blend; Arsenal is a good side in the English Premier League.

“We should expect nothing but the very best of football from the ‘Gunners’ because their quality of play is not in doubt; we should seek more of this opportunity.

“The boys should play more friendly matches so that they can blend and the current rebuilding process can further bring the team to its winning ways,’’ he said.

Also applauding the development, Felix Owolabi, another ex-Super Eagles player, said it did not matter if the Super Eagles played either a club side or a national team.

“It does not matter if they play clubs, what matters is the quality of their opponents; I think Arsenal represents a good composition of players. It is a solid football club.

“It is no big deal any way, more advanced countries do this, it’s just a new trend in our football,’’ Owolabi said.