We are Ready For Cote d" Ivoire -Eagles

Super Eagles landed in Abidjan, Cote
d'Ivoire Thursday morning ahead of the
final leg of the Africa Nations
Championship qualifier against the
Elephants. The match is scheduled for
Saturday in the same city.

The team of 18 players and officials were
led by the Vice President of the Nigeria
Football Federation, Chief Mike Umeh.
Eagles goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim alerted
his team mates on landing in Abidjan not to
misinterpret
the friendly reception given
by the Ivorians as sign that they have
given up on the race to South Africa. And
just before they left Abuja he told reporters
that the Eagles were battle ready to take
on
the Elephants. He emphasised that that they
had
been training hard for the game and
recognise the tasks ahead of them.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria, "This
game is like a battle; there must be a victor
and the vanquished. The Ivorians are
going to come all out to fight, but I can
assure you that we are battle-ready to win.

We don't intend to sit back and defend our
4-1 lead, but we will attack all the way,
because attack is the best form of
defence."
Sunday Mba, a midfielder, said they were
currently in high spirit in the camp.

"We are looking forward to the game; with
the kind of spirit in our camp, I believe we
will come out victorious," he said.
Godfrey Oboabona thanked God for the
4-1 victory they secured in the first leg in
Kaduna, stressing that all that they would
need would be to build on that victory.

Oboabona said, "It is just a matter of focus
and determination. We have been warned
not to be distracted when we get there.

"We know it's going to be a very difficult
game for us because the Ivorians will
deploy all tactics to get us to react
negatively. We have discussed and taken
care of all that during our training sessions.

I hope
by the special grace of God that we
are not going to be distracted by their
antics."

The NFF president Alhaji Aminu Maigari told
the players that the federation believes in
them.

He said, "The NFF believes in you and this is
why we have given Coach Stephen Keshi all
the
support in his rebuilding plan, which
has involved giving the home boys equal
opportunities in the main team, alongside
the overseas-based professionals.

"Go in there with the mentality of a
winning team and you would get the
ticket. Nigerians are looking forward to
your coming back with the ticket that will
set the tone for another triumph for our
country in South Africa early next year."

Saturday's clash at Stade Felix Houphouet-
Boigny will start at 3.30pm Ivorian team
(4.30pm Nigerian time).

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