Sports
2014 W/Cup Qualifier: S’Eagles Set For Demolition Job On Malawi
The Super Eagles look de
termined to scale the final hurdle to the final qualifying stage for the 2014 World Cup as they face the Flames of Malawi in one of the final Group F matches tomorrow.
The match scheduled for the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar has already elicited robust debate and raised tension between the two teams.
Already, the Malawian team led by Nigerian reject, sainflait, has raised the stakes with his mind games and the declaration that his wards can beat Eagles in Nigeria.
But most of the Super Eagles players have promised to give the visitors a hiding when hostilities begin tomorrow.
According to keeper Vicent Enyeama, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Ogenyi Onazi, Nigeria will beat Malawi comprehensively in the match to silence the visitors once and for all.
Interestingly, the commitment and confidence level of the players show that they mean business with the way they reported to camp and have trained indicate that they are all on the same page as far as the mission of qualifying for the final road is concerned.
Now, despite all the tasks, Coach Stephen keshi and his players must remain focused and over confidence must not be allowed to creep into the Eagles’ game, as the flames will obviously come with a tactic to catch them off guard.
Keshi at the moment seems to have fast moved out an efficient squad and he must find the right combination of players to deliver the goals tomorrow.
Nigeria leads group F with nine points while Malawi is second with eight. The Eagles only need to avoid defeat to scale through while Malawi must win to advance.
One thing is sure though, the Super Eagle must not aim for draw in the match, they have the fire power to douse the Flames.
According to former Super Eagles goalkeeper, it’s a crucial encounter, but then, we cannot write off the superior power of the Eagles. I believe we are more technically gifted than the Flames and we must make that reflect in our plan come tomorrow. I am optimistic we’ll win” he said.
The Super Eagles will not be short of support as millions of Nigerians will be cheering them on both live and on television as soon as they step out at the U.J Esuene Stadium, where they have not let a match.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.