Eagles set to rock Algerian boat without a Captain The injury nigeriasports.com gathered, informed the substitution of the mercuric midfielder in one of his most dazzling elements; a development which left most Nigerians, who watched the the player, who is also the captain of his club, cheering and grinning ear to ear, pre-playing the video tape of what would become of the North Africans, when they are faced by a flock of Super Eagles being captained by Okocha. This would not be afterall...our Okocha is injured; the lion is down with a groin strain, which could keep him off the pitch for days, including the DAY when his national team, which he captains, will be going for the broke against Algeria in a pre-Mundial battle. To this end, some Nigerian ball nuts have started sulking over the pronounced absence of their darling team's skipper. While some such as, a female member of the Nigerian Football and other Sports Supporters Club, Victoria Okoroafor is of the opinion that, the player's absence would not only create a gorge that would be hard to fill during the match, others are saying that, with or without Okocha, the other players should be able to deliver on Sunday. "I'm not saying that without Okocha, the national team cannot go places, but we all saw what happened during the Libyan/Nigeria friendly play in Tripoli. The difference was clear. Okocha is not only the captain of the Super Eagles, but a motivator and an inspiration to the set up...he plays the same role in his Bolton side. I have a feeling that, it is not true that he won't be part of the Eagles' onslaught against the Algerians on Sunday,"Victoria wished. On the other side of the divide, one man who stood to be quoted by nigeriasports.com was one respondent, who chose to be addressed as Boggie Kelly. To him, it's all a fluke. "I watched the match between Okocha's Bolton and West Ham United last weekend and I have this feeling that, there is more to it, than meets the eyes in our own Jay Jay's proclaimed and orchestrated injury. "You know that this guy, Okocha has been in the news over a deal being dangled at him from the Arabs. I hate to believe that, this has anything to do with his injury claim. Again, there has been this choice of games, in which the player wants to feature and his continued option to quit playing for the nation. When you put two and two together, your answer could be same as mine...but, I hope the player is not feigning an injury. "I do hope so, because the Jay Jay that I know, is a humble and patriotic fellow. If the injury is true as I have read in the newspapers, then it is most unfortunate, that he won't be in Algeria to torment the Algerians. To this I say, his fellow compatriots should do all they can, to ensure that, at least, one of the two high hurdles against Eagles' World Cup qualification, is scaled. God bless a good master and more blessings to the obedient servant, who Eagles players have always been." 1
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