ACTUALITE |
08.01.2002
Nigeria await five Eagles
Five Super Eagles players are still being expected as the Nigerians enter their final preparations` stage for the African Nations Cup.
The five, according to coach Amodu Shaibu, include strikers Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Agali and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Defenders Taribo West and Celestine Babayaro are the others, he said.
"Some of them will join us either in Cairo or Abidjan where we`ll playing friendlies," Shaibu told BBC Sport Online.
"Kanu and Babayaro have been given the go-ahead to play for their clubs. So they`ll join us later."
The Nigerians travel to Cairo to play Egypt`s Pharaohs on January 8.
Past rows
Then, they take on Ivory Coast`s "Elephants" on January 12 in Abidjan before the trip to neighbouring Mali.
Nigeria Football Association chairman Dominic Oneya said the Nfa reached an agreement with Kanu and Babayaro`s clubs to keep the players busy with games.
"We discussed with English clubs Arsenal and Chelsea that for them to keep both players, then they have to keep them active.
"So the players will be in top shape before they join us few days to the start of the Nations Cup."
Both Premiership clubs and the Nfa have had rows in the past over the release of the players for international assignments.
The Super Eagles, who lost the 2000 edition on penalties, are among the favourites to win the Nations Cup, starting on January 19.
High morale
The Nigerians are drawn with hosts Mali, Algeria and Liberia for the first round group matches.
Midfielder Austin "Jay-Jay" Okocha said the team is confident of winning the trophy this time.
"Yeah...the team morale is quite high and o course, we`ll be going to Mali to win the trophy," he said.
Nfa boss Oneya
Shaibu added: "Every Nigerian has high expectations from us and we hope we can satisfy them."
He is hoping to be the first Nigerian coach to lead the Super Eagles to a Nations Cup tournament win.
Nigeria`s two previous victories in 1980 and 1994 were under foreigners.
Shaibu is also the first home-grown coach to qualify Nigeria for a World Cup finals.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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