New
Super Eagles coach, Lars Lagerback will return to the country today
from South Africa to watch the Home Eagles file out against the Mena of
Niger in Sunday’s African Nations Championship qualifier. The match
will be held at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday.
The team, led by
Daniel Amokachi, will be hoping to overturn a 2-0 defeat they had in
the first leg in Niamey by scoring at least three goals to eliminate
their West African opponents.
Lagerback left for
South Africa on Tuesday to inspect the Eagles camp at the Hampshire
Hotel in Durban, ahead of the commencement of the Mundial and he is
expected in Abuja today. The Swede tactician will use the opportunity
to assess some of the domestic league players who would be capable of
earning a call up to the national camp for the build-up to South Africa.
Nigerian soccer
fans are anxious for the first list to be released by the former Sweden
national team handler, who has been monitoring the performance of his
players across Europe following his appointment last month. He was in
the stands when the Eagles team B, largely dominated by players from
the Nigeria Premier League, defeated Congo DR in an international
friendly.
Lagerback’s focus
One of the players
Lagerback is hoping to give a second chance of assessment is Bayelsa
United’s defender, Chibuzor Okonkwo who represented Nigeria in the U-23
team that won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Football Tournament
in Beijing. He can play both as a defender and a midfielder and his
versatility and high work rate could earn him a call up for the
pre-World Cup programme under the new boss.
Lagerback is also
looking at defensive options after identifying the backline as the
major challenge in the national team and the likes of Ike ThankGod and
Mutiu Adegoke would be hoping to get a chance while Ahmed Musa, the
league’s top scorer with 14 goals as well as 12-goal star, Osas Idehen
will hope to defeat Niger to impress Lagerback. Musa, who plays for the
Northern outfit, Kano Pillars is hoping to make his debut in the
national colours after getting the call-up from Amokachi following the
first leg defeat.
Also in the list of the new players invited after the first leg is
John Owoeri, who is remembered for his role in the Flying Eagles squad
that won the silver medal at the 2005 World Youth Championship in
Holland.
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