Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has demanded
total concentration from his players ahead of the final leg of the 2014 CHAN
qualifier against Cote D’Ivoire in Abdjan on July 27, noting that the match
will be like a war against the West African neigbhours.
Speaking before training commenced on Tuesday morning at
the FIFA Goal Project site in Abuja, Keshi who started his overseas career in
Cote D’ Ivoire, said Ivorians are passionate about football and they will do
anything to defeat Nigeria, hence the need to forget the 4-1 win in Kaduna and
concentrate on the return leg.
“The win in Kaduna is history and if you have been
following reports in the Ivorian media you will see that they have been making
remarks that they can also beat us by wider margin to qualify. We must be ready
for their antics and forget the past.”
The team is training at the Goal Project because the
Ivorians had already informed CAF that the return leg will be played on
artificial turf. Twenty three players trained on Tuesday morning with only
Godfrey Oboabona exempted by the coaching crew because he had had a hectic
schedule with his club, Sunshine Stars. He will join his teammates on Wednesday
morning, as the players battle for the 20 slots that the coach will take to
Abidjan for the match.
Also on Monday evening, FC Braga of Portugal defence ace,
Elderson Echejile, was at the team’s Bolton White Apartment abode to wish his
mates and the coaching crew a good outing in Abidjan. Echejile came in at
dinner time and went straight to see Keshi, before spending sometimes with most
of his mates.
“My visits is principally aimed at encouraging them to
excel when they play the Ivorians and I believe they can defeat the Elephants
of Cote D'Ivoire right there in Abdjan”, he said smiling.
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