Super Eagles
The Super Eagles arrived in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia on Friday and immediately moved to the stately Country Club Resort Windhoek.
They will be there for six days, training for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Namibia’s Brave Warriors on Wednesday and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament that begins in Brazil on Saturday.
On Thursday night, the delegation was hosted to a sumptuous dinner at the Nigeria House in Nairobi by Ambassador Akin Oyateru.
At dinner, Ambassador Oyateru, who also served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Namibia in the 1990s, urged the team to show similar guts and go-go spirit as they did against the Harambee Stars at Kasarani on Wednesday.
“This is a big opportunity for myself and other officials of the Nigeria High Commission here. You really made us proud. We all have faith in you and you have shown what you can do by rejuvenating our football with that triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. And you have not let us down since then.
“Go to Windhoek and conquer so that our path to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals will become even clearer.”
Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, praised the Nigeria mission in Nairobi for their love for the team, adding that the Nigeria Football Federation deserved plaudits for the team’s progress.
Wednesday’s match will start at 8pm at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, which has an artificial turf.
World football-governing body, FIFA has appointed Eritrean official, Mensur Maeruf Kherseed as the Referee for the match. He will be assisted by compatriot Berhe Tesfagiorghis O’Michael (1st Assistant Referee), Djiboutian Hassan Egueh Yacin (2nd Assistant Referee) and Eritrean Luelseghed Ghebremichael as Fourth Official. Mady Kanoso Bora from Madagascar is the Referee Assessor while Ugandan Abbasi Ssendyowa is the Match Commissioner.
Meanwhile, the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has
charged the Super Eagles not to lose focus of three points in Namibia next week after scooping the maximum points against Kenya in Nairobi on Wednesday. They landed in the Namibian capital around 10.35am local time.
charged the Super Eagles not to lose focus of three points in Namibia next week after scooping the maximum points against Kenya in Nairobi on Wednesday. They landed in the Namibian capital around 10.35am local time.
“It is important that we keep our focus. There are no longer small teams in international football and I believe you will approach the match with your usual seriousness and total dedication, which saw to the fall of the Harambee Stars.”
Top officials of the Nigeria High Commission in Windhoek, including Ambassador Nath Olorunfemi, received the Super Eagles on their arrival on Friday, and the High Commissioner immediately assured the team and the NFF of adequate support before, during and after the match with the Brave Warriors.
“We will mobilize all Nigerians in Windhoek, through the Nigeria community, to come to the Stadium on match day and support you,” Olorunfemi said.
Nigeria top Group F of the African series for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with eight points, and will qualify for the two-leg final qualifying fixture if they win on Wednesday and Malawi fail to beat Kenya in Blantyre same day.
Malawi have six points, followed by Namibia with four, and Kenya have only two points.
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