As Eagles Confront BotswanaTODAY in Benin City the Super Eagles will meet Botswana in their first match since they failed to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup. Most Nigerian football fans have written these Eagles off as a squad that cannot claim greatness in African soccer following their recent poor form in international football.But then this is a game with some significance. Super Eagles new coach, Stephen Keshi, has promised Nigerians a new era for the national team. Keshi says he has the qualities needed to turn the team's fortune around. Some people believe he can change things. Yet, there are others who have adopted the wait and see attitude.While it is still not clear the kind of magic he would bring to a bruised and battered team, some are optimistic that his wealth of experience would come to bear when the Eagles take on Botswana.Keshi's task is definitely a tough one considering that he would have to work on a team with a low spirit. He was unveiled on Thursday and only met the players on Wednesday, which might not have given him enough time to access the team and players ahead of his debut game.The former Super Eagles captain first assignment in the saddle is also made more daunting because he would have to contend with some of the players, who contributed to Samson Siasia's fall.Siasia tried to instill discipline and unity to the team but the players seemed not to have read his script and eventually the team crashed.To succeed in the job, Keshi needs to instill discipline into it, a task that has always been difficult for indigenous coaches. He also has to ensure that players picked for national assignment are fit and ready to give their all to the team.Keshi is expected to use this game to assess the players and choose those that would suit his team formation, and not to build the team around players who might disappoint him in crucial games as they did in the final 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers against Guinea.In that game, the likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Mikel Obi, and Emenike were mere passengers on the field.Keshi has promised to give every player the equal opportunity in the national team to ensure that only the best Nigerians are chosen to wear the Super Eagles' jersey.Of course, the new coach has the experience to steer the Eagles' ship having coached Mali and Togo; and working as an assistant to both Bonfrere Jo and Shuaibu Amodu.However, he would have to contend with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that is looking for a quick fix rather than a football culture that would guarantee success in the long run. Goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu survived the last managerial Tsunami in the team and must give his new boss a lot of tips on why the last team headed by Siasia failed and what to be done to move the team forward.There are suggestions that it is a new beginning for the team but the bulk of the players who could not get the country a Nations' Cupticket are still in the fold so the new coach is expected to work on their psyche to get the best out of them.Against Botswana today, the Eagles must get into their stride early because Nigerian fans who have watched the team slide down in recent years have also become very impatient with their darling team. It is very easy for them to switch allegiance to a visiting team once the Eagles' fails to fly.As expected, Lille of France goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has made a return to the team while his assistant for several years both at Enyimba Football Club and the national team, Dele Aiyenugba, has been dropped. But the new coach has Aiyenugba him of a call up once his performance improves in his club.The other goalkeepers in the team are Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim.Joseph Yobo will lead the team from the defence, with Yusuf Ayila, Taye Taiwo, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Efe Ambrose, Ugo Ukah, Dele Adeleye, GegeSoriola, and Elderson Echiejile in the squad.Mikel Obi and Obinna nsofor pulled out of the game due to injury, the midfield and attack still have Kalu Uche, Joel Obi, Fengo Ogude, Chinedu Obasi, Ekigho Ehiosun, Brown Ideye, Ahmed Musa,Jude Aneke, Edward Ofere, and Emmanuel Emenike in the team to face Botswana.Speaking to journalists yesterday, Keshi, who could on join the team that morning, said he was sure that the above players would do the country proud in this game, and subsequent matches.Assuring that everything would be done to make the Eagles fly again, he praised the players for their attitude to training since Wednesday, adding that a lot was still expected of them on the road to reclaiming the lost glory.Keshi believes that with the right attitude, the team can emulate the 1994 squad, which went all the way to the second round of the World Cup after winning the Nations Cup same year in Tunisia.'I am impressed with the response of the players to camp as well as in training. 27 players were present in the first training session and they were all ready to showcase their skill. I could not have asked for more (at least for now). I can assure you that we will get back to where we belong, and that is, the top.'The fact that the players gave their best in Wednesday's training shows that they have put the disappointment of not qualifying for next year's Nations Cup behind them, which is good for us as a team. We must find a new beginning and not dwell on the failure of the past.'He added: 'there are lot of talents in the team the NFF Technical Committee selected and I must give them praise for that but I still believe there are many others waiting for an opportunity to come into the team. I want the fight for shirt to be competitive so that no one will lay claim to automatic place.'The new gaffer believes that the target set for him by his employers was realizable, noting that he would also get the players to know that they were not playing for him but for their country and career.According to him, today's game would not be an easy one because there are no longer minnows in African football, noting that the Botswana team could not be underrated after qualifying for next year's Nations Cup.To fashion out ways of doing a credible job, Keshi met with his assistants early on arrival in Benin yesterday. He also had a general meeting with the players and other members of the technical crew.In the national team as Keshi's assistants are Beninioise, Houandinou Valere, Daniel Amokachi, Sylvanus Okpala and Shorunmu.At the parley with players, Keshi told them that team unity must be their watchword, saying the steady decline of Nigeria could be attributed to disunity, which had been allowed to eat deep into the team under pervious coaches.The former Mali coach charged the players to put the interest of Nigeria first before their various clubs in order to leave a legacy behind and be appreciated by their countrymen.Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo, who responded on behalf of the players, promised that they would rededicate themselves to the national team.He said: 'We are happy to have you back as the leader and on behalf of my teammates, I promise that we shall do everything possible to succeed.'Meanwhile, Nigerians have been warned not to expect instant success from Keshi because the damage done to the team would take some time to be repaired.His former team mate both at the national team and New Nigerian Bank FC, Bright Omokaro, called on the fans not to use today's friendly to judge Keshi, saying that the new coach needed time to put together a good team that would be a force to reckon with.'The match that would be played today is a friendly game and we should not expect much from the new coach. Keshi is an experienced coach but he needs to study the players he inherited form Siasia.'Despite the fact that Botswana is not a big time football nation we still have to understand that this is the new coach's debut game, so he needs time.'He also advised Keshi not to be in a hurry to deliver advising that he should see today's game as a learning process.'For me, I don'tthink he should be under any pressure to perform. He has coached at this level before so what he needs is to take things easy and articulate plan so as to succeed.
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