Players Set For 7.10pm Kick-Off
NIGERIA'S delegation to today's 2010 World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and Tunisia's Carthage Eagles, arrived in Tunis on Thursday determined to face any kind of intimidation from the Tunisians before, during and after the match. The game will hold at the November 7 Stadium, Rades outside Tunis.
Team Captain, Nwankwo Kanu, said the Eagles did not expect niceties from the North Africans. "We are here to play an important match and that is what we will concentrate on. Our mission is to get a result; not bother how they try to intimidate us. Football is serious business and the World Cup is a much more serious business".
After three days of useful tactical and technical training in Ta Qali, the capital city of the tiny European country of Malta, the Eagles travelled 65 minutes by air to Tunis , the Mediterranean -bordered capital city of Tunisia , arriving in the early hours of Thursday.
Officials confirmed that the 23 Eagles who were in Malta, trained on natural grass and artificial turf at different times. "We wanted to be prepared for any eventuality", said a member of the technical crew.
On arrival at the Aeroport Tunis de Carthage on Thursday, the players and officials were received by the Nigerian Ambassador to Tunisia, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulkadir Musa and staff of the mission . They were driven to the Hotel Laico, the top -ranking hotel in Tunis, which used to be known as Hotel Abou Nawas.
During lunch on Thursday, Ambassador Musa urged the players to be focused and expect all kinds of intimidation from players of the Tunisian team and even the fans. "However, I know that you are all professionals and will not allow those things to bother you", he said.
Just after lunch, the team was pleasantly surprised to see defender Joseph Yobo, goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba, striker John Utaka and Assistant Coach Daniel Amokachi, who were actually being expected in the evening. The players decided to travel by British Airways out of Nigeria on Wednesday, but by their ticket were expected to land in Tunis by 6pm on Thursday.
"We chartered a flight from London to Tunis in the morning when we realized we could miss the training session in the evening. That would not be good because these players missed all the training sessions in Malta," explained Amokachi.
All the 26 players in camp are in high spirits and Head Coach Shaibu Amodu confirmed this. "Everyone is in great shape. We will be able to pick the best from the lot, " he said.
Players in camp include: Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Bamidele Aiyenugba and Austin Ejide; defenders Joseph Yobo, Ayodele Adeleye, Onyekachi Apam, Danny Shittu, Obinna Nwaneri, Taye Taiwo, Elderson Echiejile, Yusuf Mohammed, Olubayo Adefemi and Sam Sodje; midfielders Nwankwo Kanu, Osaze Odemwingie, Sani Kaita, Kalu Uche, Olufemi Ajilore, Mikel Obi, Seyi Olofinjana and Dickson Etuhu; strikers Obinna Nsofor, Ikechukwu Uche, Joseph Akpala, John Utaka and Michael Eneramo.
The last time both teams played on the turf of November 7 Stadium in February 2004, it was the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations. The match ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time, with both goals coming through penalties. Nigeria scored first after Nwankwo Kanu was double-teamed in the box, and Beninoise referee Codjia Coffi pointed to the spot. Skipper Jay Jay Okocha converted.
Riadh Bouazizi equalized for Tunisia with only 13 minutes left, after Seyi Olofinjana was adjudged to have fouled Ziad Jaziri in the Nigerian box.
But Nigerian players will remember the day for the antics of Tunisian officials, who played the old Nigerian anthem, ' Nigeria , we hail thee' before kick-off and only played the right one, 'Arise o Compatriots' at the start of the second half. The Nigerian team bus was stoned severally as the Eagles made their way out of the stadium that night.
The chartered Arik aircraft which conveyed members of the Presidential Task Force, ministers, other politicians and members of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club was expected to land in Tunis by 4pm yesterday, according to the schedule.
Source: Guardian Newspaper
Also in the news
Nigeria/Tunisia World Cup Qualifier: No Retreat, No Surrender
From: www.africansoccerunion.com
THERE is a big task before the Super Eagles to surmount today and that is, for the team to beat the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and give Nigerians a bright hope of seeing the country's flag being hoisted in the 2010 World Cup.
The game has become a must-win for the Nigerian team which remains unbeaten so far in the race to the mundial billed for South Africa and this, coach Shaibu Amodu acknowledges.
"We can't be average, we have to rise above that and put in extra effort. We want to qualify for the World Cup, but we have to take it one step at a time. We have a big goal," the former coach of Orlando Pirates told FIFA .com.
Nigeria had only escaped defeat once on Tunisian soil but eventually lost 0-1 in Lagos, courtesy of Godwin Odiye's own goal to miss the ticket to Argentina '78, while two World Cup qualifiers to Espana '82 and Mexico '86 ended in defeats for Eagles
Perhaps, many Nigerians would fervently pray for a miracle to happen today to re-live the memory of Tunisia '94 celebration, but Tunisian Houcine Ragued has sent a warning signal to Amodu, who "We are aware of the fact that winning this game would lead us into a very good position in qualifying for the World Cup, especially as winning against a team like Nigeria could shock a bit, all our opponents," said the Tunisian midfielder.
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