Anthony Akaeze
Nigeria’s Super Eagles yesterday arrived Porto Alegre, venue of Wednesday’s match against Argentina, confident of upsetting the form books and topping group F.
The team, with all 23 players departed Campinas hotel, on the outskirts of Sao Paolo, to Porto Alegre on Monday and proceeded to Holiday Inn Hotel, about 10 minutes drive from the airport. On board the flight also was coach Stephen Keshi and his assistants, some members of the House of Representatives led by Ayo Omidiran, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Sports and Mike Umeh, Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The Eagles, who currently have 4 points from two matches, two behind group leaders, Argentina, will aim for nothing but outright victory even though a draw will guarantee them a place in the round of 16. The Nigerian team are trailed by Iran who have one point and will have their eyes on winning their last group match as well against no hoppers Bosnia-Herzegovina. But that won’t be an easy game either as Bosnia-Herzegovina will be hoping to salvage some pride from the tie.
The Super Eagles will be bolstered by the return of Godfrey Oboabona who was injured in the team’s first game against Iran on June 16 and was replaced by Joseph Yobo who went ahead to feature in the team’s second match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. That inched Yobo closer to his 100 mark appearance for the Super Eagles, a team he has also captained for years but it remains to be seen who, between him and fit again Oboabona would get Keshi’s nod for the important fixture in Porto Alegre.
Yobo however says his major concern at this point is the team’s success rather than the attainment of any individual record. “It’s good news that I will reach that milestone but what is uppermost in my mind is for the team to win and for us to advance to the next stage. The rest will be a bonus,” he said on Monday.
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