As Nigerians and international football community look forward to the much talked about friendly match between Nigeria and Argentina national team, Samson Siasia,Super Eagles head coach declared he is not carried away by the supposed Argentine list omitting World Best player, Lionel Messi and Carlos Trevez.The Super Eagles and Argentine team are expected friendly match is slated for 1 June 2011.The match is sponsored by Guinness Nigeria Plc.
Siasia told the media that the match would be beyond just one or two names, insisting that both countries cannot afford not to field their best players.
“Messi and Tevez are not the most important players in Argentina so we are not complacent about their rumoured absence,” Siasia said. “Argentina will never raise a substandard team against Nigeria because they too want to maintain their record of the unbeaten runs.
"We are focused and will give the match all it takes. Argentina is one of the world's most successful football nations. Any team they field will be of world class quality because the depth of talent available to them is second to none. Whether they are the more well known international players or the phenomenal rising stars coming through, Argentina is amongst the best in the world"
"Facing one of the world football super powers,Siasia noted would not be an easy task but the Super Eagles will measure up to expectation, springing up surprises that would make it a reference point in the note book of football history"
Sisisa also noted that “Argentina has not lost a match in recent time and that is an indication that that we have to prepare well for the match. They are a strong side and we can’t afford to let our fans down. I can understand that Messi will play in the UEFA Champions League on May 28 while Tevez has been out for a couple of weeks due to injury and Batista will not want to risk using them. After the WAFU Cup, our efforts will be geared toward good preparations to at least revenge all the past defeat from Argentina.”
Siasia does not see anything wrong in testing new players in a friendly match insisting that any team from Argentina has the potent instinct to surprise and shock any team in the world adding that the Super Eagles team list will also have some local and foreign-based stars.
We also scoop that among the new players the coach is banking on are Chibuzor Okonkwo and Ekigo Ehiosun.
Siasia, we gathered, will send his team list for the historic match to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday and will be followed immediately by letters of invitation to the players.
In a similar development, the Argentine Football Association has also denied the purported list of players allegedly being circulated by some people.
The so called list excluded Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain and Diego Milito but AFA representative, Hernan Tofoni said that his Association is yet to make public the list of players for the match.
Hernan said that AFA accepted invitation to be part of the Guinness the Match based on the respect they have for Nigeria and the match is important to their build-up for the COPA America Cup.
Hernan said the argentine team is looking forward to a great football experience with Nigeria. Stating that they have beaten Nigeria at three times in the past and they intend to uphold that record. He noted that Nigeria, being a great football nation, this can only be achieved with their important players.
On his part, Jay Jay Okocha's former coach in Bolton,Sam Alladyce said Guinness the match is going to be a tough one, warning that Nigeria should watch out for several talented Argentine players who will play the friendly match. It is a game that is most anticipated by most people across the globe and Nigeria can not afford to lose it.
Alladyce mentioned the likes of Zabaleta, Otomendi,Maeto Musacchio and so on, as some of the players to watch out for outside the usual names.
Meanwhile, gistmaster.com gathered that the list of players for the Nigeria- Argentina Friendly match is expected to be made public 10 days before the historic match
-Gistmaster.com
Other stories
former Miss World, Agbani Darego and supermodel, Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi talks about nature gentle touch
Seun Olubukola and Niyi Adewunmi's wedding photos
Bolanle Sokunbi and Folahan Aboderin wedding photos
Lekki International airport to take off soon in Lagos
.jpeg)
No comments:
Post a Comment