Super Eagles begin
Nations Cup Campaign
Nigeria’s
Super Eagles will trade tackles with the Elephant of Ivory coast
late Monday, at the Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium in Ghana, marking
their campaign for honour in the most glamorous Africa Sports
fiesta.
The Eagles, who
arrived in Accra last Thursday and since then had gone into
serious training in their quest to win for the third time, moved
to Sekondi-Takoradi on Friday, staying at the serene Raybow
International Hotel, Takoradi.
Since arrival in
Ghana, the Berti Vogts' team have been training behind doors to
allow them the freedom to concentrate on the task ahead.
The team was
forced to change venues twice because they arrived on the pitch
after Benin Republic had taken over the venue, while the second
pitch was rejected by Vogts, who said it was too open.
Saturday
afternoon's training session was held at the lush Ghana Railways
training pitch, which was barred from journalists and the team’s
supporters. The session lasted for two hours, with concentration
on set pieces, team work and shooting.
Allaying Fears
After the
session, Vogts, who talked with some journalists, allayed fears
expressed by Nigerians on the Eagles' ability to win the
competition. He said that his team was ready for the challenge
of Ghana 2008 because, in his words, “we are prepared.”
The team handler
was also “very optimistic because the Malaga camping has shown …
the true quality of the team.” According to him, “we had the
opportunity to train very hard and with what I know of the boys,
they have the quality to win the competition.”
Meanwhile, team
captain, Kanu Nwankwo, has said that today's match would provide
the Eagles the opportunity to avenge the 2006 defeat inflicted
on Nigeria by the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
Kanu said that
winning the first match would set the tune for the Eagles'
eventual triumph in this competition, adding that all the
players were primed for action.
In his words,
“winning the first match will give us the right platform to move
ahead, and all the players know that… We are aware of the
quality in the Ivorian team, but we cannot afford to fail for
the second time against the same team.”
Revenge
The Nigerian team
has a date with history after their narrow defeat by the
Ivorians in last edition of the Nation’s Cup. To Nigerian soccer
fans, this is the best opportunity for the Super Eagles to
revenge the last defeat and stamp their authority in the
tournament.
According to the
World governing soccer body FIFA, Nigeria is currently the first
soccer nation in Africa. To that extent, super eagles are a team
to beat in Ghana 2008. Soccer analysts have predicted that
Nigeria will lift the trophy for the third time.
Divine Intervention
He asked
Nigerians to pray for the team because “we have worked hard and
our spirits are high, but we need the element of luck to grab
the trophy. So, Nigerians should pray for us so that things will
work out well.”
NP/AOA/Qasim
