Super Eagles focused on Zambia
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Super Eagles Media Officer Idah Peterside says the team are not thinking beyond Monday’s quarterfinal game against Zambia.There was a collective sigh of relief across the nation when the final Group D standings placed Zambia, rather than Cameroon, on top of the group, after an extraordinary night of permutations and confusion.
Confidence is high among fans that the Eagles will sweep through to the semifinals, but Peterside warned that the Chipolopolo will not be rolling over.
“We are not thinking beyond the game against Zambia,” Peterside told KickOffNigeria.com. “They are not an easy team to play and we have to give them the respect they deserve.
“They topped a group that also had Cameroon, and that shows you how good they are. We will have to study them well and fight till the last minute.
“The boys know that and they are not taking anything for granted. For them, this game is going to be do or die, because they know the expectations back home and what the reaction will be if they fail. So they want to give it their very best.”
Nigeria are yet to lose a competitive game against the southern Africans.
Both teams first met at the final of the 1994 Nations Cup, with Emmanuel Amuneke’s brace securing a 2-1 win for Nigeria. Three years later, both teams played two friendly games hosted by Zambia. The southern Africans won the first game 2-0. Four days later, they drew 0-0.
It was not until 2001 that they met again in competition during the qualifiers for the 2002 African Nations Cup. Nigeria won the first leg 1-0 with a Victor Agali goal at home, and drew 1-1 in the return fixture at Chingola.
Their most recent meeting was just before the Nations Cup when they met in a pre-Nations Cup tune-up game which finished 0-0 at Durban, South Africa.
Me4anwhile, former French great Alain Giresse has slammed calls for the removal of Nigeria head coach, Shuaibu Amodu by highly–placed Nigerians, saying the calls are ill–motivated.
“I used to be interested in the Nigeria job; I think six years ago or so. But not any longer. I don’t know what is going on. How can someone qualify his country for the World Cup and then, because he lost a match, everyone is saying they should sack him.
“Please allow the man to do his work. Nobody is perfect, but if someone can qualify his country for the World Cup, then he deserves some respect. I even heard that it is the second time he has qualified Nigeria for the World Cup. That is huge.
“Sincerely, I don’t want a job like that; I prefer the peace. But let me say that Nigerians should leave the coach alone. Let him do his work and he can get good results for your country.”
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Super Eagles focused on Zambia
Category: Sports Written by - Hits: 474
Super Eagles Media Officer Idah Peterside says the team are not thinking beyond Monday’s quarterfinal game against Zambia.There was a collective sigh of relief across the nation when the final Group D standings placed Zambia, rather than Cameroon, on top of the group, after an extraordinary night of permutations and confusion.
Confidence is high among fans that the Eagles will sweep through to the semifinals, but Peterside warned that the Chipolopolo will not be rolling over.
“We are not thinking beyond the game against Zambia,” Peterside told KickOffNigeria.com. “They are not an easy team to play and we have to give them the respect they deserve.
“They topped a group that also had Cameroon, and that shows you how good they are. We will have to study them well and fight till the last minute.
“The boys know that and they are not taking anything for granted. For them, this game is going to be do or die, because they know the expectations back home and what the reaction will be if they fail. So they want to give it their very best.”
Nigeria are yet to lose a competitive game against the southern Africans.
Both teams first met at the final of the 1994 Nations Cup, with Emmanuel Amuneke’s brace securing a 2-1 win for Nigeria. Three years later, both teams played two friendly games hosted by Zambia. The southern Africans won the first game 2-0. Four days later, they drew 0-0.
It was not until 2001 that they met again in competition during the qualifiers for the 2002 African Nations Cup. Nigeria won the first leg 1-0 with a Victor Agali goal at home, and drew 1-1 in the return fixture at Chingola.
Their most recent meeting was just before the Nations Cup when they met in a pre-Nations Cup tune-up game which finished 0-0 at Durban, South Africa.
Me4anwhile, former French great Alain Giresse has slammed calls for the removal of Nigeria head coach, Shuaibu Amodu by highly–placed Nigerians, saying the calls are ill–motivated.
“I used to be interested in the Nigeria job; I think six years ago or so. But not any longer. I don’t know what is going on. How can someone qualify his country for the World Cup and then, because he lost a match, everyone is saying they should sack him.
“Please allow the man to do his work. Nobody is perfect, but if someone can qualify his country for the World Cup, then he deserves some respect. I even heard that it is the second time he has qualified Nigeria for the World Cup. That is huge.
“Sincerely, I don’t want a job like that; I prefer the peace. But let me say that Nigerians should leave the coach alone. Let him do his work and he can get good results for your country.”