Sports
Adepoju Charges Super Eagles On Seychelles Match
Ex-Nigeria international, Mutiu Adepoju has urged the Super Eagles to take their inconsequential 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Seychelles seriously.
The three-time African champions currently lead Group E with 10 points from five games and have already booked their spot in the continental competition but they still have the first spot to fight for as they are a point adrift of second-placed South Africa.
They welcome Gavin Jeanne’s men who are rooted to the bottom of the group to the Stephen Keshi Stadium on Friday.
And Adepoju who scored six goals in 42 international outings for the Super Eagles advised Gernot Rohr’s men to see the encounter as part of preparation for the Afcon finals in Egypt.
“It is a dead rubber encounter and we have qualified already but that does not mean we should forget the importance of the game because it is a qualifier which we have to play as if we have not qualified,” Adepoju told newsmen.
“We have to take it seriously because if we have qualified and we’re looking forward to going to the tournament which is the Africa Cup of Nations, we have to play with all seriousness and field the available key players.
Rohr resorted to a familiar 23-man squad for the clash with Midtjylland’s Paul Onuachu and Enymba’s duo of Valentine Ozornwafor and Ikouwem Utin the only players handed debut call ups.
While many insisted that German tactician should have added more new faces to his squad this month, the former Real Madrid midfielder reckoned that time for preparation is of vital importance.
“The AFCON is barely three months away and there’s not enough time to prepare so most of the players that are going to go should be among the players to play against Seychelles,” he added.
“Leaving all those [regular] players could amount to waste of time. All the matches from now on should be in preparation for the tournament we have ahead.”
On his expectation from the Super Eagles who are bound to return to the AFCON stage after a six-year absence, Adepoju said: “I expect a very serious game and playing the game as if we have not qualified and I expect to see how the players can play together.
“Definitely, expecting a win because no game is small and you have to play every game to win.”
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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