Nigeria Content Online

The gradual phasing out of aging players from the Super Eagles by coach Samson Siasia has been described as good for the team. AC Milan player, Nnamdi Oduamadi, said as much to NEXT in an interview after the Nigeria’s U-23 team beat their counterparts from Liberia 6-1, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Saturday.

He observed that in view of the tiring legs, it is becoming very difficult for the aging players to continue to assist the younger ones as they apparently have lost the pace which they were once known for. Odumadi said that with hard work, he hopes to get another call up to the senior national team to fight for a shirt.

The tension-soaked second leg match of the London 2012 Olimpic Games qualifiers saw the visitors taking the lead from the spot kick in the 24th minute after dictating the pace of the first ten minutes.

The Austin Eguavoen-tutored side, however survived the early onslaught piled on the by the visitors. Nigeria got the equaliser through Daniel Uchechi from a penalty in the 29th minute. The Liberian side thereafter lost control of the midfield, as the duo of Uchechi Nnamdi and Nosakhare Igiebor took full charge of the midfield, completely cutting off the visitors, and this resulted in three more goals before the end of the first half.

On resumption for the second half, Ganiyu Oseni increased the tally to four to give hope to Nigeria’s bid to hoist its flag in London in 2012 and further dashing the hopes of the Liberians.

The introduction of Ikande Harmony in place of Odumadi Nnamdi in the 82nd minute of the game also yielded dividends as Oseni increased his tally to two. Though it must be noted that the Nigerian players missed several gilt-edged scoring chances before Nosa Igiebor scored his third goal of the encounter in the 88th minute to end the game six goals to one.

Roberto Landi, the Italian coach of the Liberian side described his lads as a young, home based team, which he said he is fine-tuning for the future of the national team of Liberia. He however said that a costly mistake by his side made them pay dearly with the wide goals margin.

Coach of the Dream Team V, Austin Eguavoen, dedicated the victory to departed Super Eagles defender, Olubayo Adefemi. Adefemi died in a ghastly motor accident in Greece, and was buried in Lagos on Friday. Eguavoen described Adefemi as a dependable player who always played to instructions, saying that he left when Nigeria needed him most in the process of rebuilding of the national team. A one-minute silence was observed in Adefemi’s honour before the commencement of the game.