Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi has warned players of the national team currently in Dubai for friendly games that they cannot afford to leave the United Arab Emirates empty handed, even as the players vow to win their second friendly game against Yemen on Saturday.
Speaking to the players at one of the training sessions in Dubai, Amokachi, said the players may have received kudos for playing well against Cote D’Ivoire but the fact remains that the game was lost. “That is in the past now, we must all refocus our minds for the next game. Not only players but even we the officials because we cannot afford another slip.”
The Yemeni side are already reportedly in town with technical report about them indicating that they may not have the skills of the Nigerians but they can run for 90 minutes and more without tiring, hence the need for the Super Eagles to be on the watch-out for the energetic Yemen side until the final whistle.
Team Captain Chigozie Agbim, who has been in splendid form here agreed with Coach Amokachi and assured that the players are focused and ready to make Nigerians happy with the friendlies before qualifiers for CHAN, next CAN and the World Cup start. “We know that Nigerians are still not too happy with us because we missed the Nations Cup and we have to start getting their support through games like this. All thanks to the NFF for the vision”.
At Thursday’s evening training session, Achibong Ukoh, the father of Steven Ukoh, was the guest of the team at the Al Shabab FC training ground and he came away with smiles over his son’s sparkling display in training. “I’m so excited that he finally decided that he will play for Nigeria and he’s already played a game and I will be here to watch him on Saturday”, he said joyously.
He thanked the NFF and the technical crew of the national team for the opportunity given his son to thrive, saying that sooner than later his son will become a permanent feature in the Nigerian set up”.
The Eagles will file out later Saturday evening 8:30pm UAE time and 5:30 pm Nigerian time for the international friendly against Yemen at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, UAE.
