Habeeb Akinfegbe
Swaziland are ranked far below the three time African champions but the latter think there is need to be careful and and not underrate their opponents, this was opined by the coach, Sunday Oliseh.
According to him, their 2018 World Cup qualifying second round opponents, Swaziland, will not be an easy nut to crack. The Super Eagles travel to Lobamba for the first leg clash on Friday night before returning to Port Harcourt next Tuesday. He however assures that he would do his best with the players to ensure victory away.“They are a team that shocked Guinea and it is not going to be easy playing them especially when we are playing them on an artificial turf at their home. So we know what is waiting for us.“
Furthermore, the coach assured that the best players would be picked for the Swaziland assignment no matter which league or country they are playing in.“Everybody has a chance of playing. We didn’t invite anybody here to be on holiday. As far as I am concerned it doesn’t matter where you are playing.“If a home star proves to be better in form in what I have seen today and will also see tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday then he would start the game against Swaziland that is as far as I am concerned.”The winner over two legs would enter the third round of qualifying.
Meanwhile, US-based and returnee forward, Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins is already in camp after two years, completing a full house ahead of Friday's Fifa World Cup qualifier against Swaziland in Lobamba.
It was gathered that the Seattle Sounders' forward landed at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja at about 5:30am on Wednesday morning via Bristish Airways and later arrived at the camp at about 6:35am.
The Sounders striker who made his international debut a decade ago has scored 18 goals in 39 appearances and has been in top form this year netting 15 goals so far for the Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit. Martins arrived in the company of Lazio's Ogenyi Onazi and Portugal-based Shehu Abdullahi on Wednesday to complete the 24-man squad of invited players by coach Sunday Oliseh. Already in camp are captain Ahmed Musa, goalkeepers Carl Ikeme, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Alampasu, defenders Efe Ambrose, Austin Oboroakpo, Chima Akas, Jamiu Alimi, Kalu Orji, Godfrey Oboabona, Wilfred Ndidi and Elderson Echiejile.Others are midfielders Paul Onobi, John Mikel Obi, Sylvester Igbonu and Rabiu Ibrahim, and forwards Odion Ighalo, Ezekiel Bassey, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.
The Nigerian delegation are expected to depart Abuja via a chartered flight, an ARIK Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 7am on Thursday. Upon arrival at the Matsapha International Airport, the Super Eagles’ players and officials will stay at The Sun Hotels, while the official training will be at the Somhlolo National Stadium,Lobamba by 7pm on Thursday. The match between the Super Eagles and the Sihlangu Somnikati will kick off at 7pm on Friday, 13th November. Four days later, the return leg will hold in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 17th November, with the winner progressing into the third round of World Cup qualifiers.
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