By Augustine Kalu on February 2, 2017

Former Flying Eagles’ coach, John Obuh, has warned the national team, the Super Eagles not to be deceived by the recent resignation of the Algerian national team coach, George Lekeen following the failure of the Desert Foxes to make it to the quarterfinal of the 31st Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tagged Gabon 2017.

According to the former Sharks and Enugu Rangers gaffer, the resignation of Lekeens does not make any difference as the Algerians remain a major threat to Eagles’ ambition of berthing in Russia in 2018.

He warned the Coach Gernot Rohr boys not to take for granted the serious threat posed by the Algerians despite the fact that they did not make much impact at the on going Africa Cup of Nations as they could not go beyond the preliminary stage of the Championship.

“Well, it will be a big mistake on our part to think that due to the fact that the Algerian National Coach, George Lekeens resigned his appointment there is crises with the Desert Foxes,” Obuh stated.

“I would want to state without any prejudice that the resignation of George Lekeens as the Algerian national team coach does not in any way change anything. Algeria remains a big threat to Eagles’ ambition to hoist the country’s flag in Russia next year.

“We will be deceiving ourselves to think that because Lekeens has resigned the Desert Foxes are in disarray. It is not true, I can assure of that. Lekeens’ resignation I want to assure you is rather going to serve as a motivation to the team to ensure that they continue to fight for the World Cup ticket till the end of the World Cup campaign.

“So, my advice to the team and their technical crew is to be on guard and continue to plan and work hard in order to deliver the World Cup ticket to millions of Nigeria football crazy fans and supporters. Delivering the World Cup ticket will serve as a soothing relieve to the ruffled nerves of Nigerians after our two Africa Cup of Nations failures,” Obuh said.

Speaking on the surprises recorded during the AFCON championship in Gabon, the Abia State-born football tactician said it surprised him that people still talk of surprises of the Africa Cup of Nations.

He said gone are the days countries tout themselves as big football playing nations because football is played on the pitch by a team made up of 11 players on each side of the divide. Obuh said in modern day football, names no longer play the game rather what matter are the quality of players of each team, their technical and tactical discipline, hard work and the determination to fight for their nations.

“I am surprised that people still talk of surprises recorded at the 31st Africa Cup of Nations. I am saying this because gone are the days countries used to brand themselves as big football playing nations not only in Africa but the World Over.

“Let's put it on record that football is a game of 11 players on either side of the divide. So, that Nigeria is playing a small country like Togo does not mean that Nigeria is going to defeat them because Nigeria is bigger than them, it does not happen that way.

“The game will be played by 11 players of each side. The game will not be played by the entire population of Nigeria against the population of Togo. No, it does not happen that way.

“In modern day football, names no longer play the game rather what are important are the quality of the players. The technical and tactical discipline of players of a team is of great importance to any team.

“Again you also talk of hard work and determination of players to fight for their countries. That was why we saw some teams rated as small teams brushed aside some of the so called big name teams during the AFCON championship in Gabon,” explained. 

•Photo shows Coach John Obuh

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 2, 2017

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