The
Eagles begin camping today ahead of their crucial 2017 AFCON
double-header against Egypt on March 24 and 29. With scarcely enough
time to prepare for the qualifiers, the Eagles are surely operating on a
wing and a prayer, reports ’TANA AIYEJINA
The Super Eagles camp for the crucial 2017 Africa Cup of Nations double-header against Egypt opens on Sunday (today) in Abuja.
Nigeria host Egypt in Kaduna on March 25
and visit the Pharaohs in Alexandria four days later. Egypt top Group G
table with six points, two more than the Eagles, who are in second
place, while Tanzania and Chad are third and fourth respectively.
The winners of the 13-group qualifiers —
12 with four teams and one with three teams (plus the host nation which
play friendlies with the other three teams) — and the two best overall
runners-up will qualify for the tournament scheduled for Gabon next
year.
Interim coach Siasia on Thursday invited
42 players for the all-important qualifiers excluding the likes of
outstanding Mainz defender Leon Balogun, Belgium-based William
Troost-Ekong and Granada’s Isaac Success while West Ham’s Victor Moses
is back to the Eagles after more than a year in the international
wilderness. Also joining the team is powerful striker Aaron Samuel, who
recently joined Russian club CSKA Moscow on loan from China.
Siasia also gave call-ups to several of
the national U-23 team players, who he led to win a first ever African
U-23 title in Senegal late last year. They are Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman
Mohammed, Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Oghenekaro Etebo, Emmanuel
Daniel and Stanley Dimgba.
But the coach also stuck to regulars
under Oliseh like Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, Efe
Ambrose, Shehu Abdullahi, Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Moses Simon.
But Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is
not “emotionally ready” for a return to the squad after a bust-up with
erstwhile coach Oliseh.
West Ham striker Emmanuel Emenike
insisted on staying away from the team while regulars under Oliseh like
Russia-based Sylvester Igbonu and Rabiu Ibrahim were left out by the new
man in charge of the national team.
However, Siasia seemed to have had a
rethink, when he extended an invitation to Balogun, bringing to 21 the
number of overseas-based players called up for the games.
Also on Friday, Siasia declared that
only those who show guts and grit, and ability to adapt to conditions,
would be fielded against the Pharaohs.
He stated that there would be no
sentiments or consideration of previous ability as only the training
sessions in Kaduna and Alexandria would be used to decide the 18 players
for each game.
Football agent Clinton Nwankwo however
objects to the 43-man list, saying the team doesn’t have the luxury of
time ahead of the crucial double-header.
“Over 40 players for two games? That’s
too much. He should have invited only 30 players and these should be the
ones playing in their clubs’ starting 11. There is no time to play
friendly matches to try formations ahead of the match against Egypt. The
coach should prune the list in subsequent games, if he is still in
charge,” Nwankwo said.
But Siasia in an interview with thenff.com,
said, “I am excited at the debate that has been generated by the team
list. You can never satisfy everyone. The important thing is that we
know the players we want for these big games and we have invited them,
and we believe in them to deliver.
“These are two matches that we have to
win. There would be references to what someone had done in the past or
current form at club level. If you are doing well at your club at the
moment and you can’t show ferocious form in training and ability to
adapt to the environment, then you would have no place (in the team).”
The 1994 AFCON winner said he had been
speaking with all the players on the list and had received assurances
that everyone was ready to give his all in both games.
“We continue to ask for the support of
every Nigerian as we count down to the two matches. Our people should
believe that we can do it, and we will do it,” Siasia said.
However, irrespective of the quality of
players or preparations put in place ahead of the battle against the
record African champions, ex-international Bolaji Douglas says events
before and after Oliseh’s exit can play a role in the outcome of both
games.
“My fear of course is how much damage we
did to our chances with the events of the last couple of days. To say
the events would not affect the team would be a lie. Instead one can
only hope that the players do not allow it to distract them from the
task ahead,” Douglas told SUNDAY PUNCH.
“I can only wish the coach good luck.
One has to remain optimistic in the face of the sad debacle leading to
this match. I am sure he (Siasia) will do his best and one can only hope
and pray that his best is complemented by the players and of course
those saddled with the running of our football.”
Football administrator Shuaib Gara-Gombe believes the Eagles are not well-prepared for the encounter against the Egyptians.
When asked if the Eagles were on the
right path as camp opened in Abuja, Gara-Gombe replied, “No, we are not
at all. I don’t see any miracle taking place. We passed this route
before and we ended up not qualifying. The same scenario is playing out
again under the same Siasia. So what has he not done before that he
wants to do now to get us a qualification ticket?”
He added, “Miracles and prayers don’t
win games when you are badly prepared; we missed qualification long ago.
That match cannot be manipulated; it can only be won on the field by a
better prepared side and with the right psychology and motivation.
“We are not doing well right now. Cape
Verde are now first in Africa according to the latest FIFA ranking.
Where are the Eagles?”
AFCON winner in 1994 and Siasia’s
ex-teammate, Edema Fuludu, admitted that the time was short for the
coaches to properly prepare, but he added that with the right tactics,
the Eagles, three-time African champions, could still fly high above the
Pharaohs.
Fuludu stated, “Yes the time is short
but I believe no invited player will arrive short of match fitness.
Therefore, the technical crew should dwell on tactical approach to this
crucial match taking into cognisance the players with the
characteristics to fit their match plan. I think Siasia will deploy our
traditional 4-3-3 formation with specific instructions on how it will
work.”
Former BCC Lions captain Douglas is
praying fervently for the Eagles to get the desired results describing a
second non-appearance for the Eagles at the AFCON tournament as a
“tragedy.”
He said, “It is a hard call for me (on
who will win both matches). Both countries have pedigree in the
competition. Egypt are trying to get back to where they were before. As
for Nigeria, we have a couple of prospects doing well at club level but I
am not sure about our form when it comes to the Super Eagles.
“I think we are trying to build a new
team and it will boil down to who wants it more and can surmount all it
would require to overcome over the two legs. Of course, my heart is with
the Super Eagles, missing the last Nations Cup was bad enough, missing
two in a row is a tragedy.”
Even though he has his fears about the
Eagles defence, Nwankwo insists that the new technical crew must strive
to get information on the Egyptian team before they can stand a chance
of beating them.
“My advice for Siasia is to watch the
tapes of the Pharaohs and come up with a good formation. The Egyptians
are a good team. But with the array of players we have, we can beat
them.
“I am concerned about the Eagles’
defence but their attack is okay. If you watched our previous games, you
would notice some lapses. We should learn to defend our goals even if
we win by 1-0. It is the three points that matter,” Nwankwo said.
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