Coach of the national Under-23 football team, Samson Siasia, has warned his players not to be complacent in today’s 11th All Africa Games (AAG) qualifier against their counterparts from Zambia.
The first leg, second round game, is billed for the main bowl of the National Stadium, Abuja, today, from 4pm.
The Dream Team poleaxed Gabon’s U-23 team 6-1 on aggregate in the first round, and will host the Zambians, who sailed through without kicking a ball following the withdrawal of Madagascar, for a place at the men’s football tournament of the Games coming up in Congo-Brazzaville in July.
He said: “My boys are ready for the Zambians. Our focus is on doing the job here in Abuja on Sunday, so that we can then put our feet down in the return leg.
“Our match against the Gabonese has been put behind us and we’ve warned the players not to be complacent against the Zambians. We have been able to notice a few places that we need to continue to work on.
“Of course, we are ambitious. Our first target is the All Africa Games, and then we start the qualification series for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Under-23 Championship from where the qualifiers for the Olympic Games would emerge. We have a measure of what we must do to reach these targets.”
The former head coach of the Super Eagles (from 2010 to October 2011) confessed that he and his wards are ready for the battle and would not take chances in ensuring that the country qualifies for the assignments.
“Barring last minute injuries, I safely say that my wards are ready to do Nigerians proud on Sunday (today) as we battle to pick the first of our two targets, I know it will not be easy, but we intend to win well here, to make the return leg a mere formality,” he said.
He stressed that from what he has seen of the players in camp, they are really very good and ready for the tasks at hand, but reiterated that there is no automatic shirts in his team.
“The players are good and in high spirit. As in my practice, they must fight for their jersey, as there are no automatic jersey for anybody in my team, putting in mind that my team is still work in progress,” he added.
Top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have also urged the team to go for the broke and ensure that it comes out victorious in the encounter.
TheNiche gathered that the NFF officials have met with the team in their Febson Hotel, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, base and pledged their support for the players and officials, with a promise to do more if the team continues to do well in subsequent assignments.
Meanwhile, CAF has confirmed Tunisian officials to take charge of the encounter, which promises to be thrilling and entertaining.
Said Mohamed Kordi is the centre referee. He will be assisted by his fellow countrymen in the match.
