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| Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles coach |
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will tomorrow file out
against Venezuela’s La Vinotinto in Miami, Florida in a much-awaited grade ‘A’ international
friendly match in search of a second victory after downing the team almost ten
years ago.
The Coach Stephen Keshi-tutored side is
anticipating a victory against the South American team in the friendly match
that is one in a series being planned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in
preparation for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations slated for South Africa in
January.
Coach Keshi has assured Nigerians that his team is getting
better by the day and will show its capabilities against La Vinotinto.
Wednesday’s encounter is the second between Nigeria
and Venezuela at the senior international level. The two teams last met in
another friendly match at London’s Watford FC arena on July 26, 2003 when Eagles
captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s lone goal decided the clash.
The Eagles is seriously preparing for a victory
such that by Tuesday afternoon, all the players invited by Keshi had arrived in
the team’s camp and were battling for shirts.
Notably present was Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi
that is featuring for Nigeria’s senior team for the first time. Ameobi is
hoping to have a good game alongside another foreign international, striker Obafemi
Martins, who put up impressive displays in training on Monday and Tuesday.
According to the team’s media officer, Ben Alaiya,
Martins says he has a point to prove to Nigerians in the match having been
absent from the squad for some time now. According to him, he wants to prove to
the country that he still has so much left in him to give to the squad.
Other foreign-based players in camp include defender
Elderson Echiejile, midfielders Raheem Lawal, Ogenyi Onazi, Nosa Igiebor and
US-based Bright Ejike and striker Brown Ideye. The home based players are
goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Solomon Kwambe, Azubuike
Egwueke, Benjamin Francis and Umar Zango, midfielder Henry Uche and forwards
Sunday Mba, Ejike Uzoenyi and Gomo Onduku.
Chelsea’s duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses
will miss the match after being excused by Coach Keshi while Rennes defender
Apam Onyekachi is out injured. Apam underwent a surgery in France on Monday for
the injury he picked up on Friday, close sources confirmed to us.
Coming from a 6-1 defeat of Lone Star of Liberia in
October to qualify for the 2013 Afcon, the Eagles that jumped about six places up
to number 57th in the world and 10th in Africa has to
prove to Nigerians and FIFA that its performance against Liberia was not a
fluke.
The team trained twice on Tuesday and looked very
sharp and in proper shape for the assignment at hand.
Aside from the team’s determination to win the
match, Keshi is expected to use the match to begin fine-tuning plans for his final
squad for 2013 Nations Cup.
The match will kick off at 8pm Florida time (2am
Thursday in Nigeria). It will be broadcast on ESPN and Africa Independent Television
(AIT).
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