Sports
Eguavoen, Akanni Laud Eagles Over Victory
A former Head Coach of
the Super Eagles, Austine Eguavoen, has commended the team’s 2-1 victory against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa last Sunday.
The match was the first-leg of the African qualifying playoffs for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
Eguavoen told newsmen in Lagos last Monday that the team’s success “lies in their hands”.
“It was a good one, we thank God. Experience paid off, the team has come a long way. I can proudly say that we have a team that plays as a team should.
“Initially, I was a bit skeptical about our defence line, but my doubt was cleared. We have a very good team, I’m beginning to have confidence in our defence line.
“Although, the first half was not so good, but they eventually got their act together; We are happy that Eagles have made us proud again,” Eguavoen said.
He noted that securing an away victory would boost the morale of the team and urged the team to consolidate on the victory.
“I know that match was a tough one, their victory will boost their confidence and they also need to consolidate on this,” he added.
Sharing similar views was Wahidi Akanni, a former Super Eagles player, who urged the team to continue with their winning streak.
“They should not change their chemistry, they should keep this going. I believe that the return leg will not be a tough one because we won’t be under pressure.
“Kudos to the technical crew, led by their able coach, Stephen Keshi. I dare say that Super Eagles is back.
“I hope they keep this up. God willing, we will make an impressible mark at the World Cup,” Akanni stated.
Emmanuel Emenike’s goals (67th and 90th minute penalty kicks) gave the Eagles victory over the Walya Antelopes.
The Ethiopians scored their only goal in the 57th minute through Behailu Asefa.
The Super Eagles is so far the only away victor in the African playoffs, which no doubt would make the return leg in Calabar on November 16 a lot easier for the Nigerian team.
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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