Eguavoen targets ‘big win’ over Ghana
National U-23 team coach Austin Eguavoen has said he would be gunning for a big win over the Black Meteors of Ghana in this Saturday’s All African Games qualifying match billed for Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City.
Eguavoen opined that a high score margin win for his team will make the return leg in Accra much easy for his U-23 side that are also seeking a place at next year’s London 2012 Olympic Games.
“We have to score as many goals as we can so that the return leg can be a mere formality” he said.
He continued “We have to make sure we convert all our chances as they come, so it will not just be about winning but winning very well.” Nigeria is seeking a return to the All African Games after being ousted from qualifying for the last edition held in Algeria by Ghana.
“I was talking with Siasia sometime ago and he reminded me that it was the same Ghana that made sure we did not qualify the last time, right now we have to turn the table and make sure they are the ones that would not qualify”
Familiar foes
Eguavoen though admitting that the Ghanaian team are a good side said his boys know what is at stake and are ready to give their best to the course.
“I don’t need to start looking for tapes on Ghana now; I have always known them since my playing days, just like Nigeria they have many players playing abroad so we know what to expect”.
The Dream Team V resumed training yesterday after the 3-0 victory over Tanzania, according to Eguavoen the bulk of the players in last Sunday’s match will also play the Ghana match.
“Yes we hope to have most of them play against Ghana though we might invite one or two more players, for example Odion Ighalo and Anthony Ujah are expected to join the team” he revealed.
On reports suggesting that VVV Venlo forward Ahmed Musa will not be able for the crunch game, Eguavoen said it was not true, though adding that the team can still do with him.
“Musa is a good player and he brings a lot to the team but if for any reason he is not available we are still going to play our game, nobody is indispensable.
Ayew out
Meanwhile Ghana will unfortunately have to do without Andre Ayew for the weekend All Africa Games qualifier against Nigeria.
The Black Meteors missed out on the 2012 Olympics after a shock defeat at the hands of Sudan and have made the All Africa Games a priority now with Black Stars assistant coach Kwasi Appiah taking over from David Duncan for that game.
He has called up a number of players from Ghana’s Under-20 World Cup winning team for the qualifier but has revealed Andre Ayew and Opoku Agyemang will both miss the game. Agyemang is out with an injury but Ayew has been excused to attend to pressing issues in France.
That notwithstanding, Appiah is confident his side are up for the game.
“The squad has been training well and I am really impressed with the level of work put in by all the players,” the stand-in Olympic team coach said.Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
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