By Victor Enyinnaya Lagos, Ogie Osagie Benin City, Isa Abdul, Kaduna, Emmanuel Eze, Enugu on February 12, 2022
As the appointment of Emmanuel Amuneke to pair Austin Eguaveon to steer the affairs of the Nigeria’s flagship national team, the Super Eagles continuous to attract positive commentaries across the country by bookmakers’ pundit fans sports analysts and other football enthusiasts Daily Sports in her characteristics went to town to feel the pulse thus
From Kaduna comes the commendation from Abduallahi Madebo thumbed up the decision of the NFF towards the direction of Emmanuel Amuneke whose antecedents in the junior cadre and his stint with the Tanzanian national team were eloquent testimonies of a first grade coach no doubt would add value to the technical and tactical formation.
He is sound and also commands great respect from the present Super Eagles boys. Amuneke’s choice is one of the landmark decisions on way forward for football by the NFF after that shock exit from the recently concluded AFCON 2021 in Cameroon.
Madebo however urged Eguaveon and Amuneke to close ranks and work assiduously for the solid good of the game in the country. He also reminded them that the task before them now is how to assemble and raise a formidable team that would face Ghana squarely to pick the November 2022 World Cup tournament play-off in March 23 and five days later in Abuja.
From Abba Samuel from Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi hailed the decision which he described as glimmer of new hope for the national team actors and followers. Abba further said that it has already added much impetus to the already low spirited Nigerian fans who were cut short by that unceremonious exit from the just concluded AFCON champ by Tunisian team that were half strength.
“My take is that the pair of Eguaveon and Amuneke both teammates in the team they are set to handle now knew what to do to get the desired results from both the boys and for Nigerian teeming fans. Much is being expected from them and one is also glad to note that the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick was quoted to have said everything would be done to support the crew and the entire team unparallel,” he recalls.
Emmanuel Briggs Brown from Port Harcourt said he heaved sigh of relief when the appointment was finally confirmed by the NFF. This is one decision that would go along way to cushion the devastating effects of that AFCON 2021 early ouster after beautiful showing at the group stage. Amuneke as a practical highly disciplined man would bring back the lost glory and stem the laxity that has creeped into the team of late.
Brown appealed to the two top Nigerian coaches to see this national assignment under their care as now or never as turning Ghana back from this year’s World Cup football summit in Qatar must start in earnest from March 23 play-off in Accra and to cap its all five days later in Abuja.
He acknowledged that it will not be child’s play against Ghana who is also desperate to be in Qatar World Cup too. He also recalled that Ghana has also appointed new coaches towards this crack of a game and so Eguaveon and Amuneke have their hands full.
“Preparations should start off without further delay. We should rally round them too in whatever positive way (s) we can. Nigeria and Nigerians need this ticket which though would not be bed of roses. I believe in the pair of these men of quality to harness great potentials of the fresh and other experienced boys to do this assignment. I believe in the coaches and with understanding, cooperation, zeal, patriotism, focus determination etc the ticket would be in our kitty,” he prays.
In Benin City, Austin Iyamu praised the NFF on the decision and urged both men on the saddle to justify the overwhelming confidence repose in them by the games’ stakeholders and the entire country men and women.
Iyamu also applauded the momentum that have followed the appointment steering that the uphill task ahead now is the play-off against Ghana next Month believing that with concentration from the major actors the Super Eagles would do better against Ghana whose preparations also are one stop too.
Adebayo Adeleke from Ibadan simply told Eguaveon and Amuneke to remember that the lives of over 150 million Nigerian football fans are on their hands therefore they must redouble their efforts to ensure the team will do better against equally highly technical and tactical team like Ghana. Nigerians need this ticket and methinks that the men of 1994 Super Eagles fame would be equal to the task.
In Enugu Ifeanyichukwu Ikenna believes that with great tactical discipline and concentration the pair of Eguaveon and Amuneke will take Nigeria to the forthcoming Qatar 2022 World Cup showpiece.
Most important is that the coaches and the boys must encourage conquering because of the nature of the encounter involving our arch rivals, Ghana which won’t be an easy nut to crack, he adds.
Our man in Lagos reports that the fans are electrified upon the breaking of the news and appealed for oneness among the two coaches so that Nigeria will excel. According to them the timing of their appointment remain crucial and also critical in the country’s quest to find her feet in the game and the onions is on them to actualize the dream and confidence reposed in them by Nigerians and football stakeholders.
Adeoye Badmus, Kemi Idowu, Allison Udenwa all were in unionism that if things work according to the minds of those that appointed, this pair will not disappoint with the kind of quality players already in the team.
According to them the current FIFA ranking released would add some great zeal and will to the spirit of the boys as they prepare to try Ghana for size. They said what is needed most in the team right now is the formulation of water tight superior technical and tactical formation which they knew Amuneke’s presence in the squad would provide.
Source Daily Sports
Posted February 12, 2022
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