|
|
| Nigerian media highlight Nigeria/Tunisia World Cup qualifier
|
|
|
| |
Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) -
The 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifier between
Nigeria and Tunisia, scheduled to take place Saturday in Rades, outside Tunis,
s
tole the show in almost all the Nigerian media.
Tunisia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Kenya are in the same group of the double-heade
d championship and for Nigeria, with four points behind leaders Tunisia (6 point
s
), it is a must-win situation if the Super Eagles intend to appear in both compe
t
itions.
Writing under the headlines "Nadia, Amokachi's Tunisian wife, backs Nigeria for
ticket," and "We have to win, It's Crucial, says Tunisia's Kasraoui", Thisday ne
w
spaper reported that Nigerian assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi, had disclosed th
a
t his Tunisian wife would be rooting for Nigeria when the Super Eagles confront
T
unisia on Saturday in Rades, in a fixture that will likely determine their South
Africa 2010 fate.
Amokachi, a former national team stalwart has been married to a Tunisian super m
odel, Nadia, since 1995 after they met a year earlier at the African Cup of Nati
o
ns finals in Tunisia.
According to the paper, Nigeria and Tunisia have both forged one of the fiercest
rivalries in continental football, having met 15 times over the past three deca
d
es with the latter enjoying a fair share of the balance with six victories compa
r
ed to Nigeria’s four.
The Tunisians have six points, two more than Nigeria in Group B and will despera
tely hope to flaunt the home card before a partisan Rades capacity crowd.
The paper also quoted Tunisian lead goalkeeper, Hamdi Kasraoui, as saying that a
win at home against the Super Eagles on Saturday was very important if they (Tu
n
isians) are to secure the single ticket of the qualifier group to the World Cup
o
f 2010 in South Africa.
According to the paper, Kasraoui and his teammates are well aware that a win aga
inst Nigeria would put their country on the brink of World Cup qualification.
He said, however, that there was no reason for Tunisia to feel pressurized by at
taching more importance to the match than is necessary, as this could have a neg
a
tive effect.
"It’s a match like other matches. We don’t need to put too much pressure on our
shoulders. We just need to put the game in its context," Kasraoui said, adding "
I
t’s a crucial step for the qualification to the World Cup. In this sense, we nee
d
to conserve our lead in the group because it’s the only way to play in the fina
l
stage."
The Daily Independent questions "Who survives the clash of the Eagles?", recalli
ng that a few weeks back, it looked like 20 June will never come.
According to the paper, "today is here. It is a day the Lord has made. But as fo
r rejoicing, especially among Nigerians and Tunisians alike, it will come after
t
he crucial encounter between the Super Eagles and Carthage Eagles today in Rades
.
"Nigeria's desire to hoist its flag at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will e
ither be sealed to a great extent today or hit the rocks, depending on the outco
m
e of this encounter, which reminds one of the final phase of qualifier against P
a
lencra Negras of Angola en route Germany 2006."
The paper recalled that prior to that encounter, Nigeria stood precariously on t
ight rope while hoping that permutations based on goal for and against would fav
o
ur it at the last minute, but that was not to be as it crashed out with a bang.
It wrote that: "Ironically, a new precarious situation has presented itself agai
n en route South Africa. Supposing a sudden death circular came from world socce
r
ruling body now, suspending further qualifiers and using the present group stan
d
ing as yardstick for hoisting flags in South Africa, Tunisia would hit the rainb
o
w city at the expense of Nigeria because it is leading the group with six points
in two matches against Nigeria's four points."
The realities on ground suggest that the Shuaibu Amodu-tutored Super Eagles are
condemned to achieve an outright win today in Rades to have any hope of qualifyi
n
g.
The paper said though Super Eagles have a goal difference advantage, having scor
ed three goals and conceded none, settling for a draw in Rades will not take the
team to the promised land as there are no guarantees that it will win its remain
i
ng home ties on 5 September and 10 October against Tunisia and Mozambique respec
t
ively.
The Guardian quoted members of the Nigerian team as saying "We are ready for Tun
isia's antics."
The paper said the Nigerian delegation to Tunisia are determined to face any kin
d of intimidation from the Tunisians before, during and after the match.
Team Captain, Nwankwo Kanu, said the Eagles did not expect niceties from the Nor
th Africans. "We are here to play an important match and that is what we will co
n
centrate on. Our mission is to get a result; no matter how they try to intimidat
e
us. Football is serious business and the World Cup is a much more serious busin
e
ss."
In its screaming headline - "South Africa 2010: Nigeria, Tunisia in make or burs
t battle," the Weekly Trust said the duel was crucial to both countries as its f
i
nal outcome was expected to determine who picks the group ticket to the 2010 FIF
A
World Cup to be staged in South Africa and the Nations Cup in Angola.
The weekly warned "The Eagles must beat their host today irrespective of all the
obstacles. However, if the match goes the other way, anybody who would advise t
h
e Eagles to start thinking of Brazil 2014 should not be accused of unpatriotism.
"
The Tribune screamed "No Retreat, No Surrender - As Eagles Go For Victory".
The paper buttresses its point with these riders: “Eagles Can Beat Tunisia”, "I’
m In World Cup Mood - Mikel Obi", "Enyeama Assures Nigerians", "Amaechi Predicts
Victory For Eagles", "Shittu Thrilled By Players’ Competition" and "No Repetiti
o
n of Maputo Mistakes - Amodu".
According to the paper, the game has become a must-win for the Nigerian team whi
ch remains unbeaten so far in the race to the mundial, billed for South Africa a
n
d this, coach Amodu acknowledges.
"We can't be average, we have to rise above that and put in extra effort. We wan
t to qualify for the World Cup, but we have to take it one step at a time. We ha
v
e a big goal," the former coach of Orlando Pirates said.
Nigeria had only escaped defeat once on Tunisian soil but eventually lost 0-1 in
Lagos, courtesy of Godwin Odiye's own goal, to miss the ticket to Argentina '78
,
while two World Cup qualifiers to Espana '82 and Mexico '86 ended in defeats fo
r
Eagles.
The Sun newspaper quoted a former Super Eagles coach as saying "Eagles ’ll scale
through Tunisia’s hurdle".
There were other stories during the week, especially the attack on oil facilitie
s in the restive Niger Delta region.
|
| |
| Lagos - 20/06/2009 |
| |
|
|