Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi is sure that
the criticisms the Super Eagles have received in their build-up to the
World Cup will stop
after the match against the United States on
Saturday.
The Eagles manager, in an interview
monitored in Lagos on Thursday, said the players were now going through
specific training programmes with the squad cut down to the exact 23
players billed to play in Brazil. He attributed the pattern of play
exhibited so far by the players to the fact that they were just starting
to train as a team.
He said, “We all just started training
as a team last week. Now we have increased the intensity and the focus
has shifted to specifics. We simply played against Scotland with little
or no training having just arrived in town but the players are in better
conditions now and responding well. We are facing a good team as we
play the USA but I am sure people are going to see a much coordinated
and purposeful team. The game will be better.”
The Eagles arrived in Jacksonville,
Florida, from their Philadelphia base on Wednesday evening as
preparations continue for the World Cup which kicks off on June 12. They
are scheduled to play a friendly against the United States in
Jacksonville.
On Thursday Ahmed Musa and Elderson
Echejile trained separately as they gradually recover from injuries they
sustained in the friendly against Greece last Tuesday. Echejile was due
for a scan on his thigh muscle later on Thursday while Juwon Oshaniwa
was said to be recovering from malaria. Overall, Keshi gave the physical
condition of the entire squad as encouraging and above ninety per cent.
The team captain, Joseph Yobo, said he
was hopeful of a superb outing for the team in Brazil. Lazio of Italy
midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, corroborated what the captain said.
Yobo said, “We have to give our all in
the tourney because in future people will ask us ‘When you were playing,
what did you achieve?’ We have won the Nations Cup, now is the time to
aim for the big one.”
It was not clear if aiming for the big one meant winning the trophy or getting to the last eight at least.
Onazi added, “Yes, they say we have not
been scoring many goals but these are preparatory games, when we come to
the tournament proper they will see the real Nigeria national team.”
Source:Punch Newspaper
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