Algerians celebrate Okocha's absence

Hitherto yellow-livered Algerians have suddenly decided to dare their Nigerian opponents guts for guts and command for command come Sunday, September 4, 2005, when both teams square-up in their dicey World Cup qualifying encounter in the mainbowl of Stade Ahmed Zabana in Oran, Algeria. The hosts' sudden flourishing confidence stems from the news of Super Eagles Captain, Jay Jay Okocha's non-availability for the game on Sunday.

Before being jolted from the 'yolk' of fear in which the names and elements of the Super Eagles had sunk them, the Algerians nigeriasports.com gathered from our camp source in the North African nation, had froze at the mere mention of the Nigerian side. "They had not ventured to toy with the mere mention of the team's name, talkless of naming the calibre and high-profile quality of Eagles players.

"But when the news of Okocha's abstinance from the encounter hit their camp, it was as if they had even won the match. This could be read from their faces and responses of their respective players to training sessions and the degree of listens they now give to their coaches.

Some of them including, their handler, Mustapha Biskri could not hide the relief Okocha's absence had brought to the entire team,"the report stated.The Algerians may have nothing but pride at stake in the encounter, but one and the lonely motivating factor for wanting to give the visiting Nigerians the best they have in their football armoury, is national pride.

On the Group Table, they are second from the bottom, which is being occupied by the Rwandese Wasps. They doubled to the effective power-packed soccer forays of the Gabonese and crumbled like the Cookies to Gabon in Algeria.Against the Super Eagles Mundial 2006 qualification obstacles, Angola, the Desert Warrriors missed their targets and only managed to ended the battle in a no-victor, no-vanquished draw. When they were confronted by the whipping 'insects' of the Group from the Rwandese Wasps, the Warriors staggered to an uninspiring win.

They failed to make any concrete impact, when confronted by the Zimbabweans in Algeria; it was also a repeat broadcast of their encounter against the Angolans - another draw - and these have left their ego battered into shreds...these herefore, form the fire from which they hope to ignite their runs against the Eagles on Sunday.

"The news of the Super Eagles' mid-field stirer's absence has evoked a new spirit in my team. If it is nothing, it's a psychological boost, which is capable of giving my boys the needed liver and guts to face the Eagles in Sunday's match. We are all now determined more than ever before, to give the Eagles a good run for their ambition to get to the World Cup.

"This match is the only hope we now have to redeem our battered image in the eyes of all Algerians, following our poor outings so far, in the World Cup qualifying challenges we had faced. Beating a big team such, as the Super Eagles, definitely, would heal the wounds our previos poor results had inflicted in our supporters and all Algerians. "

"So, it is a good development to us because, we no longer have to worry over how we can curtail Okocha's constructive masterpiece command of the mid-field and even, all over the field.

"I can confess to you that, the thought of handling the Nigerian's sleeky and tricky style of approach and team inspirational game, had been a worrisome issue to us, the coaches. But now that he is not playing on Sunday, we can heave a huge sigh of relief. "

We can now really get our acts together and draw our game plans for the match. It is now left for us to take advantage of the vacuum Okocha's absence would create in the match, which of course, we know,"an Okocha's absence- relieved Coach Biskri was quoted as declaring.