2014 W/Cup: ‘Success, Only Option For S’Eagles’

Ex-international, Emeka Ezeugo has warned that a successful World Cup outing is the only option for the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they will have no excuse not to go beyond the first round, after they were placed in a ‘soft’ group.
Nigeria have been paired in Group F alongside Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran.
A draw which many stakeholders including Ezeugo believe to be favourable, as it offers Nigeria a chance to excel at the mundial.
“This is a World Cup tournament and you can’t ask for a better scenario than the current group make up,” Ezeugo said in Abuja at the weekend.
“To be fair, there is no excuse for Nigeria not to advance from the preliminary stage. Group F in my opinion is very soft and you cannot ask for a better group than this.”
The former Abia Warriors coach was in Abuja to take part in an exhibition match which was organized to create awareness of human rights.
Meanwhile, Stephen Keshi has said that a 35-man squad will be too unwieldy and he would be naming a more manageable squad for his pre-World Cup camp.
Earlier reports had suggested that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) wanted the coach to name 35 players to account for potential injuries, but Keshi has rejected the plan.
“I don’t know where these stories of 35 players are coming from,” Keshi said.
“I have less than three weeks to prepare for the World Cup and so we need to be serious because of the limited time at our disposal.
“I will only invite those who will give us what we need and I intend to make the list available at the right time.”
But members of the NFF technical committee insist that the coach would have to select a number that accounts for withdrawals of any sort.

Man United’s Nemanja Vidic (right) nodding his side ahead against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in the UEFA Champions League quarter final, last night