Minister for Sports and Social Development and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Abdulrahman Hassan Gimba yesterday met with players and technical crew of the national football team, Super Eagles and told them they would survive the group phase only if they show more commitment and fighting spirit in the campaign.
After a close-door meeting with members of the Executive Committee at his abode in Takoradi, close to the Eagles’ Raybow International Hotel, the minister proceeded to meet with the players and bared his mind on the lack of fighting spirit that was evident in their group-B opening game against Cote d’Ivoire, particularly after the Elephants scored through Salomon Kalou.
“I may not be an expert in technical matters, but we all saw the way the Cameroonians fought even as they were losing to Egypt. The Cameroonians fought to the last minute. Why did we give up chasing the game against the Ivorians.
“Friday’s match against Mali will be won by the team that is better prepared, the team that is better charged and the team that fights better. We can pray, but other teams also pray to God. The difference will be the team that is more committed to winning”, said Gimba.
Gimba also denied suggestions that the team camping in Malaga with a cold climate could have affected them.
“There was never any truth to the reports about Malaga being cold. I was there for a week and I never had reason to put on my jacket. I was also very happy to see that the NFA provided everything the team could have needed in Malaga”.
Nigeria must beat Mali on Friday and Benin Republic next Tuesday to have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals at Ghana 2008. Africa’s most populous nation has failed to reach the Nations Cup finals only once in 14 previous appearances at the Cup of Nations – when they crashed against Algeria and Zambia in Libya 26 years ago.
…NFA believes Eagles can do it
Members of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Association met in Takoradi Wednesday and expressed confidence in the ability of the Super Eagles to reach the Nations Cup quarter finals.
“But there has to be a new attitude altogether. There has to be a return of the fighting spirit that we know our team for, the kind of spirit that won them the Nations Cup in 1980 and 1994 and took them past Cameroon at the 2004 finals in Tunisia”, FA boss Sani Lulu Abdullahi said after the meeting.
Lulu, Vice Chairmen Amanze Uchegbulam and Oyuki Obaseki, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Aminu Maigari, Abubakar Ladan, Obinna Ogba, Taiwo Odebunmi, Shehu Adamu, Patrick Ekong and secretary Bolaji Ojo-Oba attended the meeting which took place at the Raybow International Hotel.
“When we play Mali on Friday, the players must go in there and perform. Let us appeal to them to show greater commitment. The NFA has done its very best to get the players well-prepared and to motivate them. The ball is now in the players’ court.
“Every country that has to play Nigeria go in there ready to die fighting; that’s why we have to always show greater fighting spirit whenever we’re playing at international level”, said Chief Obaseki.
The 23 players have collected their appearance fee of $3,000 each for the tournament, as well as their camp allowances till the end of the group phase. Victory over Mali will set them on course for a bumper quarter–final qualification bonus of $15,000 each.
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