By Adeyinka Adedipe
SUPER Eagles' former utility player, Garba Lawal, says the away game against the Harambee Stars of Kenya will be vital to Nigeria's quest for a 2010 World Cup slot in South Africa after last weekend's 0-0 draw against Tunisia in Rades.
Lawal, who noted that a draw was better than a loss, said he was sure that Eagles would win their two away games but could not say the same for the games in Kenya. He added that the Nigerian side has failed to score in two away games and would have to be more adventurous away if they must beat the Stars in Kenya.
"My fear is that the Nigerian team has not played to their full potential at away games and they seem to be cautious whenever they are on away ground. But all that must stop if they must win in Kenya," he said.
"The team has fared better at home and I am not in doubt about the players' ability to win their two home games - against Tunisia and Mozambique."
The former player stated that the game against Tunisia was highly technical and tactical, adding that he was not surprised that the game ended goalless but that Nigeria could have beaten the Tunisia if they were more adventurous up front. According to him, the draw was not a bad result and the inclusion of some players who did not play for the team against Kenya in Abuja was expected.
"The players fielded for any game depends on the coach and the tactics he employs for the game, so, the inclusion of Mikel Obi, Joseph Yobo and Taye Taiwo was not unexpected," he stated.
However, he advised the players and the Shaibu Amodu-led technical crew to stay united in their quest to land in South Africa.
Former Secretary-Gener-al of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Sani Toro, has said that the Super Eagles now have their 2010 World Cup qualification in their hands after their goalless draw with Tunisia in Rades on Saturday.
Speaking yesterday with Sports Vanguard, Toro noted that coach Shuaibu Amodu’s Eagles now have their work cut out as they must win their next three matches to progress to the first World Cup to hold on African soil next year. Tunisia currently occupy the top position with seven points, followed by Nigeria, who have five points, two ahead of Kenya, in third place, while Mozambique, are last on the table, with one point.
SAFE-HANDS.....Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, tips the ball over the reach of Tunisia’s Karim Hagui, during their World Cup qualifier on June 20. It ended goalless.
SAFE-HANDS.....Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, tips the ball over the reach of Tunisia’s Karim Hagui, during their World Cup qualifier on June 20. It ended goalless.
Nigeria’s next match is a home fixture against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on September 6, and Toro, who was scribe of the NFA, when Nigeria qualified for their first World Cup in 1994, said that is one match that the Eagles are condemned to win to stand any chance of toppling the north Africans on the table.
“We are now back on track for the World Cup with the result that the team pulled off in Tunisia. It was not easy going there for the draw because that was the objective that coach Amodu wanted to achieve going form the strategy he deployed.
“It could have been a different story entirely if they had lost and that is why I think the draw is worth celebrating for the time being, even though, they still need to do more to get to the World Cup. It is important that they must raise their game in the next three matches. “What is more important is that they now know that they must win their next three matches to reach South Africa and that involves playing at their maximum”, added Toro, who urged Nigeria to continue supporting the team en masse.
SUPER Eagles' former utility player, Garba Lawal, says the away game against the Harambee Stars of Kenya will be vital to Nigeria's quest for a 2010 World Cup slot in South Africa after last weekend's 0-0 draw against Tunisia in Rades.
Lawal, who noted that a draw was better than a loss, said he was sure that Eagles would win their two away games but could not say the same for the games in Kenya. He added that the Nigerian side has failed to score in two away games and would have to be more adventurous away if they must beat the Stars in Kenya.
"My fear is that the Nigerian team has not played to their full potential at away games and they seem to be cautious whenever they are on away ground. But all that must stop if they must win in Kenya," he said.
"The team has fared better at home and I am not in doubt about the players' ability to win their two home games - against Tunisia and Mozambique."
The former player stated that the game against Tunisia was highly technical and tactical, adding that he was not surprised that the game ended goalless but that Nigeria could have beaten the Tunisia if they were more adventurous up front. According to him, the draw was not a bad result and the inclusion of some players who did not play for the team against Kenya in Abuja was expected.
"The players fielded for any game depends on the coach and the tactics he employs for the game, so, the inclusion of Mikel Obi, Joseph Yobo and Taye Taiwo was not unexpected," he stated.
However, he advised the players and the Shaibu Amodu-led technical crew to stay united in their quest to land in South Africa.
Source: Guardian News
Also in the news
2010 World Cup now in our hands, says Toro
By John Egbokhan (www.vanguardngr.com)
Former Secretary-Gener-al of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Sani Toro, has said that the Super Eagles now have their 2010 World Cup qualification in their hands after their goalless draw with Tunisia in Rades on Saturday.
Speaking yesterday with Sports Vanguard, Toro noted that coach Shuaibu Amodu’s Eagles now have their work cut out as they must win their next three matches to progress to the first World Cup to hold on African soil next year. Tunisia currently occupy the top position with seven points, followed by Nigeria, who have five points, two ahead of Kenya, in third place, while Mozambique, are last on the table, with one point.
SAFE-HANDS.....Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, tips the ball over the reach of Tunisia’s Karim Hagui, during their World Cup qualifier on June 20. It ended goalless.
SAFE-HANDS.....Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, tips the ball over the reach of Tunisia’s Karim Hagui, during their World Cup qualifier on June 20. It ended goalless.
Nigeria’s next match is a home fixture against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on September 6, and Toro, who was scribe of the NFA, when Nigeria qualified for their first World Cup in 1994, said that is one match that the Eagles are condemned to win to stand any chance of toppling the north Africans on the table.
“We are now back on track for the World Cup with the result that the team pulled off in Tunisia. It was not easy going there for the draw because that was the objective that coach Amodu wanted to achieve going form the strategy he deployed.
“It could have been a different story entirely if they had lost and that is why I think the draw is worth celebrating for the time being, even though, they still need to do more to get to the World Cup. It is important that they must raise their game in the next three matches. “What is more important is that they now know that they must win their next three matches to reach South Africa and that involves playing at their maximum”, added Toro, who urged Nigeria to continue supporting the team en masse.
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