Abakaliki - Football fans in Ebonyi have hailed the Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, for using the lessons of the last Confederations Cup to secure a win over Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday.
The Eagles trounced Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 in the first leg of the CAF Nations Championship qualifier that was played in Kaduna.
The fans, on Sunday in Abakaliki, were of the view that the domestic league players who featured in the Confederations Cup made the difference in the match.
Mr Chike Ogiji, Chairman of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Youths and Sports, said that the team blended because Keshi invited the Confederations Cup players with those he had been working with in the past.
``The team had only one week to prepare for the encounter but did not have cohesion problems because the players knew themselves.
``That was the mistake he made before the Confederations Cup by omitting the AFCON winning players and inviting new and inexperienced ones,” he said.
A former member of the house, Chief Richard Idike, said that the impressive form of some Confederations Cup players in the match showed that they gained valuable experience at the competition.
``Gambo Mohammed was roundly criticised for his terrible miss against Spain and Sunday Mba, for losing form since January’s Nations Cup triumph.
``The duo accounted for three of the four goals against Cote d’ Ivoire and this showed that giving players enough chance to prove their mettle was important,” he said.
A footballer, Princewill Chukwujekwu, urged the Eagles not to be complacent as the qualification was not yet over.
``The players should approach the return match with all seriousness as the Ivoriens are capable of turning the tide in the return leg.
``All hands must be on deck to ensure that the team qualifies for the competition having missed the previous two editions,” he said.
Coach of Galaxy FC of Abakaliki Victor Eneh, said the victory showed that the Nigerian League still had potential, in spite of the elimination of virtually all its club sides from continental competitions.
``The national team is a different ball-game from the club sides, as the former entails the assemblage of the best players from the latter.
``The league, however, needs immediate rehabilitation in the areas of funding, efficient administration, provision of adequate facilities, enhanced players’ welfare among others, to keep it at par with other leagues,” he said.
A Civil Servant, Miss Njideka Nwiboko, called on Nigerians to exercise patience with the team as it would take a while for it to attain required standard.
``The team needs the prayers and support of Nigerians, coupled with positive criticisms, such as the one it received after the last Confederations Cup,” she said. (NAN)
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