Keshi okays Egypt friendly
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- Written by Orkula Shaagee
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Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi yesterday described the proposed international friendly match between the Super Eagles and the Pharaohs of Egypt next month as a good match that would prepare the team ahead of the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifying matches in June.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Spokesman Ademola Olajire said in Abuja during the week that the Federation has received a request from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) for a friendly against the Super Eagles.But Keshi, in a chat with sports reporters in Abuja, said Nigeria is ready to face the seven-time African champions as the match would provide an opportunity for the Super Eagles to test its might against quality opposition before the three competitive games in June, stressing that the team will be adequately prepared for the game.
Nigeria’s last competitive game against Egypt was in 2010, when the Pharaohs defeated Nigeria 3-1 in a Nations Cup group game in Benguela on their way to winning a record seventh Nations Cup title in Angola.
“It is all about preparing our boys and exposing them as much as you can because the month of June is going to be very tough, we have three games in three weeks; so it is good and okay”, he said.
Speaking further, Keshi explained that the new national team selection will be based on quality and not name, as big names alone cannot give the country the needed results and improvement, adding that any player good for the national team will be given a shirt to represent the country.
“We want both the home-based and the foreign-based players because they are all Nigerians, and so whoever is good to put on the jersey for the national team, we will give him the opportunity to do so; we don’t want to work with names and sentiments to give Nigeria the best.
“Ordinary Nigerians on the streets are dying to see that Nigeria plays better football and that is my concern”, he concluded.
Sunday Trust
Keshi okays Egypt friendly
Category: Sports Written by Orkula Shaagee Hits: 425
Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi yesterday described the proposed international friendly match between the Super Eagles and the Pharaohs of Egypt next month as a good match that would prepare the team ahead of the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifying matches in June.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Spokesman Ademola Olajire said in Abuja during the week that the Federation has received a request from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) for a friendly against the Super Eagles.But Keshi, in a chat with sports reporters in Abuja, said Nigeria is ready to face the seven-time African champions as the match would provide an opportunity for the Super Eagles to test its might against quality opposition before the three competitive games in June, stressing that the team will be adequately prepared for the game.
Nigeria’s last competitive game against Egypt was in 2010, when the Pharaohs defeated Nigeria 3-1 in a Nations Cup group game in Benguela on their way to winning a record seventh Nations Cup title in Angola.
“It is all about preparing our boys and exposing them as much as you can because the month of June is going to be very tough, we have three games in three weeks; so it is good and okay”, he said.
Speaking further, Keshi explained that the new national team selection will be based on quality and not name, as big names alone cannot give the country the needed results and improvement, adding that any player good for the national team will be given a shirt to represent the country.
“We want both the home-based and the foreign-based players because they are all Nigerians, and so whoever is good to put on the jersey for the national team, we will give him the opportunity to do so; we don’t want to work with names and sentiments to give Nigeria the best.
“Ordinary Nigerians on the streets are dying to see that Nigeria plays better football and that is my concern”, he concluded.