ITS DO OR DIE FOR EAGLES IN PORT HARCOURT
Sunday
Oliseh believes his Nigeria players are ready to put a lacklustre
outing in Swaziland behind them as they aim to secure a place in the
group stage of Africa's World Cup qualifying section.
Despite being widely expected to defeat the team ranked 130th in the world in Friday's first leg on the artificial turf of the Somholo National Stadium, Nigeria returned home with a goalless draw to take into Tuesday's return.
"It was a game that we went all out to win," former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Oliseh told Super Sport.
"Unfortunately, we didn't get that but we thank God that at least we have made everything open for ourselves to just win on Tuesday and qualify.
"We want to qualify and we will be going all out to win. So far, I have been impressed with the boys and the intensity of training.
"Hopefully, we get the win that we will be pushing for on Tuesday."
Oliseh has decisions to make up front, after recalled forward Obafemi Martins and Manchester City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho – the latter on his full international debut – came off the bench to revitalise Nigeria's attacking efforts in Lobamba.
The coach must also do without Rabiu Ibrahim, the midfielder who limped out of the action on Friday due to a knee injury after coming on as a half-time substitute.
"Yes, he has been ruled out. He will not play," Oliseh confirmed. "Rabiu got onto the pitch and unfortunately hurt his knee after a few minutes.
"He felt some pain and I thought it wise to substitute him. Ordinarily, he would have finished the game.
"It was saddening because it destabilized our [final] push. We wanted to win the game."
Despite overseeing a home performance overwhelmingly focused on defence, Swaziland coach Harris Bulunga hinted towards a more expansive approach in the second leg after being unimpressed by Nigeria's own attacking intent.
"Yes, of course we were playing at home, the first half we wanted to see how they came to meet us but we discovered that they were not that aggressive," Bulunga said, as quoted by Nigerian newspaper the Nation.
"It is not about them in their home because a score draw can put us through."
Bulunga will run the rule over Felix Badenhorst, Micolisi Lukhele and Mthunzi Mkhontfo after the trio were substituted as a precaution during the first match.
He added: "If the players who got some knocks and had to be substituted will be available, then I will give my team a 40 per cent chance of getting an upset result in Nigeria."
Most Nigerian pundits has suggested that in a Match that Eagles need outright victory. That the coach will do well to start Obafemi Martins who showed some spark in his first outing against the Swazis, drop Igbonu who though hardworking has failed to impress in the colours of Nigeria, Drop Shehu Abdullahi who showed like a million star in the midfield during the last CHAN but has failed to command the same performance . At the right back, he has clearly played with insufficient confidence, doesn't support the attack and fails to get his pass right.
Oliseh may as well consider the midfield trio of Mikel, Onazi and Iheanacho as Eagles are in desperate need to score goals to move to the next stage of the qualifier.
Nigeria
were unexpectedly held to a dispiriting 0-0 draw by Swaziland on Friday but Eagles Gaffer Sunday
Oliseh remains confident of World Cup qualification progress.
On what looked like a new trend or a new direction of African Football, Ghana was also held by lowly rated Comoros island and Algeria arguably the best Team in Africa forced Tanzania to a 2-2 draw while Rigobert Song led unfancied Chad shook Hector Cuper's Egypt.
Despite being widely expected to defeat the team ranked 130th in the world in Friday's first leg on the artificial turf of the Somholo National Stadium, Nigeria returned home with a goalless draw to take into Tuesday's return.
"It was a game that we went all out to win," former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Oliseh told Super Sport.
"Unfortunately, we didn't get that but we thank God that at least we have made everything open for ourselves to just win on Tuesday and qualify.
"We want to qualify and we will be going all out to win. So far, I have been impressed with the boys and the intensity of training.
"Hopefully, we get the win that we will be pushing for on Tuesday."
Oliseh has decisions to make up front, after recalled forward Obafemi Martins and Manchester City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho – the latter on his full international debut – came off the bench to revitalise Nigeria's attacking efforts in Lobamba.
The coach must also do without Rabiu Ibrahim, the midfielder who limped out of the action on Friday due to a knee injury after coming on as a half-time substitute.
"Yes, he has been ruled out. He will not play," Oliseh confirmed. "Rabiu got onto the pitch and unfortunately hurt his knee after a few minutes.
"He felt some pain and I thought it wise to substitute him. Ordinarily, he would have finished the game.
"It was saddening because it destabilized our [final] push. We wanted to win the game."
Despite overseeing a home performance overwhelmingly focused on defence, Swaziland coach Harris Bulunga hinted towards a more expansive approach in the second leg after being unimpressed by Nigeria's own attacking intent.
"Yes, of course we were playing at home, the first half we wanted to see how they came to meet us but we discovered that they were not that aggressive," Bulunga said, as quoted by Nigerian newspaper the Nation.
"It is not about them in their home because a score draw can put us through."
Bulunga will run the rule over Felix Badenhorst, Micolisi Lukhele and Mthunzi Mkhontfo after the trio were substituted as a precaution during the first match.
He added: "If the players who got some knocks and had to be substituted will be available, then I will give my team a 40 per cent chance of getting an upset result in Nigeria."
Most Nigerian pundits has suggested that in a Match that Eagles need outright victory. That the coach will do well to start Obafemi Martins who showed some spark in his first outing against the Swazis, drop Igbonu who though hardworking has failed to impress in the colours of Nigeria, Drop Shehu Abdullahi who showed like a million star in the midfield during the last CHAN but has failed to command the same performance . At the right back, he has clearly played with insufficient confidence, doesn't support the attack and fails to get his pass right.
Oliseh may as well consider the midfield trio of Mikel, Onazi and Iheanacho as Eagles are in desperate need to score goals to move to the next stage of the qualifier.
No comments:
Post a Comment