Eagles not scared of France, says Yobo

Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo, has stated that the team is not scared going into Monday’s round of 16 tie against the Les Blues of France in Brasilia, even as winger, Ahmed Musa, calls for support from Nigerians.

Super eagles

Yobo revealed that the Super Eagles have agreed to make a mark at the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
“We are not scared and we have nothing to lose but we are here n Brazil to leave a mark and legacy and we are on that path so hopefully we can do better,” Yobo said exhuming confidence.
“Even though people don’t give us credit but we are here and we gave everything that we had and even played one of the best teams in the world which was a big test for us and we showed that we can do it at the big stage and hopefully, we can do it again when we play France.
Musa on his part has called on Nigerians to support the team and hopefully they will beat France on Monday. Nigeria got to the round of 16 at this year’s World Cup in Brazil after 16 years.
“I am going to tell them (Nigerians) to keep believing in the team because it’s not that easy; the team is still young so they should keep believing in us and by the grace of God, we’ll do them proud”.
Musa became the third Nigerian player to score two goals in world cup finals after the duo of Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amuneke achieved same feat back in USA 1994.

 

Super Eagles on the march again!

After an entertaining five goals thriller with Argentina on Wednesday, the Super Eagles is poised to deliver the first ever quarter final ticket to Nigerians on Monday. Correspondent Augustine Akhilomen writes
The coast is clear and the Super Eagles of Nigeria is riding on with confidence after progressing through what was a very tough group irrespective of Iran’s football status in the world.

An early scare in the opening game against Iran may not really be the kind of results the players, coaching crew, government officials and Nigerians had wanted considering the fact that much was expected from the team, knowing that a win will definitely put the Eagles in a perfect state of mind to tackle other opponents in Group F, especially bitter rival Argentina, whom we lost to 3-2 on Wednesday.
Early scare
With so much condemnation from Nigerians back home against Iran, it was assumed the end of the road has come for Eagles. However, the team’s confidence was not dampened, as the Eagles showed that it is when the team is condemned that the true Super Eagles comes alive.
Former Super Eagles midfield maestro Austine Okocha who initially lambasted Stephen Keshi during Nigeria’s first game said that the Super Eagles improved performance in the 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina deserves some commendation.
“It’s been 16 years now we won last but Keshi and his boys deserve all credit,” Okocha said.
“Though we criticized him (Keshi) a little after the first game, he has to take the credit becoming the first Nigerian coach to get a win in a World Cup tournament.
“The team showed a little bit of improvement, even though l said earlier that it was going to be a more suitable match for us to play Bosnia than Iran.
“But I think you have to win your match no matter how good or bad the team is and that is what we did on Sunday even though it was in a hard way. I’m happy for the team and for the coaching crew. That is what football is all about, if you do well you get the reward and if you don’t, you will be rightly criticized,” he continued.

Super Eagles on high again
Indeed, Stephen Keshi’s Eagles prove 80% of Nigerians wrong by flying over Bosnia 1-0 on Saturday, with an impressive performance that made the number one citizen of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan jump up for joy after Osaze’s brilliant goal against Bosnia.
You may want to ask that what is so special about defeating a Bosnia side that is just debuting at the World Cup. There is much to desire from that win over Bosnia considering the fact that the Golden Lilies topped its qualifying group stage, banging in goals freely; on record, the highest goals scored (30) by any debuting team at the World Cup and had Edin Dzeko and Ibesivic as leading goal scorers in European zone.
More so, the level at which the Super Eagles duo of Joseph Yobo and Kenneth Omeruo marshalled the defence properly against Dzeko and Ibesivic, one would begin to imagine if this is a different team entirely.
Besides, every department in the team played its part to ensure they put smiles on the faces of Nigerians coupled with the fact that the team showed a different class, determination and winning mentality to end Bosnia’s hope of advancing on ice.
Angered by the way Nigerians, including ex-international criticised the Eagles, Keshi never allowed things to over-run him but remain calm before overcoming Bosnia.
“I am disappointed, totally disappointed (by the personal attacks), but it’s their thing, no wahala (no problem),” blasted Keshi in Brazil.
“It’s a shame, just a shame that we keep doing the same thing and then they come back and they say they are sorry. Sorry for abusing my mum? Sorry for abusing my siblings? For what? That I am representing Nigeria?”

Ahmed Musa v Lionel Messi’s show
Consequently, against all odds, the Super Eagles showed decent and wonderful feat against an Argentine side that most Nigerians felt would beat Eagles. In fact, it was a game that every Nigerians watched with keen interest coupled with the fact that the Hieneken viewing centre in Ikeja, where I initially visited to catch a glimpse of how passionate Nigerians could be with their team was amazing.

We stood toe to toe with the Argies even though Lionel Messi had a fun filled day with two spectacular goals, first a ferocious rebound that left the Eagles defence watching and a brilliant free-kick which football analysts believed could have been saved if Enyeama was well positioned. In the same way, Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa also proved that what Messi can do, he can as well do better, by grabbing a brace in the entertaining encounter on Wednesday.
Despite losing 3-2 to the Argentine team, the Super Eagles is gradually pulling stronger at every games and it’s a welcome development considering the fact that the players played out their hearts. One thing Nigerians should note in every match is that, each team is beatable for as long as you take your chances, something which the Argentine did very well.
What Keshi must do
Without praising the team so much, it is important to point out some of the grey areas that Stephen Keshi needs to work on.
First, he must ensure Mikel Obi improves on his antics in the midfield if the team must make further progress at the World Cup. In all the three games, we have played so far, Mikel has lost those defensive and creative touches that endear him into the heart of Nigerians. In fact, he loses possession more than any player in the team and failed to cover up for his teammates in the middle of the pack.
Secondly, Joseph Yobo has also shown to the world that he still possess that defensive traits however, lack of pace may haunt the team when its plays against an opponent that is as fast as Messi or Angel Di Maria in the tournament. Besides, Kenneth Omeruo was given too much to handle due to Yobo’s struggle for pace and made the defence look ordinary against Argentina. Keshi should bring some amendments in this area before the encounter against France in the round of 16.
Thirdly, with the injury to Michael Babatunde, tongues have been waging on whether Victor Moses would be able to replace him perfectly. Michael’s jack of all-trade pattern has been a blessing to the team even though a few Nigerians never gave him a chance to excel. Now that he’ll miss the entire tournament, except miracles happens, then, Moses must ensure he plays his best against France.
Emmanuel Emenike’s urge for personal glory will do the team more harm than good if he continues to play this way. Keshi must speak senses into Emenike so that he can be a team player even if he fails to score in the entire competition. Besides, if the likes of Osaze Odenwingie, Musa and Shola Ameobi continue to score goals for Nigeria through his assist, Nigerians would love him for that. What matters most is the team’s glory and not personal glory.
France must fall
The French side is looking like a team that will not lose a game at the mundial, with the way it’s been playing as a unit during its group stages. Very deadly on the attack with the likes of Karim Benzema and Oliveir Giroud and physical in nature with Paul Pogba, Sissoko and Sakho in the defence and midfield, however, against Nigeria on Monday, Keshi must explore the sloppy defensive play of Raphael Varane, Patrice Evra and Kociensley or Sakho, pending if later’s injury in not serious.
Finally, nothing is impossible in football and for a team to win the World Cup, its must play against the very best teams to emerge victorious at the end f the day, something we believe the Super Eagles can actualise starting with France in the last 16 on Monda