By Tony Ubani, Sports Editor
AS the zero hour approaches swiftly for the all important 2010 World Cup cracker between the Super Eagles and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on September 6, Coach Amodu Shuaibu confessed yesterday that he may be sacked if the Eagles fail to fly past the North Africans.
Eagles
Tunisia lead Group B African qualifying with seven points, while Nigeria are second on five points after three rounds of matches. Kenya are third in the standings with three points and Mozambique are rooted to the bottom with a point. But the coach looking rather unruffled promised to come out of the encounter smiling.
Speaking during a Tom Tom Media parley with him yesterday at the Jade Restaurant in Ikeja, Lagos, Amodu said that he has done enough to make Nigerians smile at the end of the match that would be played at the National Stadium in Abuja. He took a cursory look at how he invited the players and promised that those who were not invited for the Tunisian match should wait for another opportunity. With particular reference to Wolfsburg player, Obafemi Martins, Amodu said that his non-invitation stemmed out of his attitudinal problem. “I sent emissaries to him but before he could make up his mind, the list had been drawn.
He may have scored one or two goals, but national team is a different terrain. We thought he needed time to settle down in his new club. But he called me to say he was ready but it was late.”
The coach who first coached the national team in 1994 also admitted that Chelsea’s Mikel Obi’s backward play was causing him sleepless nights but promised that he would get better with time in the national team. “Mikel should not be blamed because of his club role but we will get him to play more offensive.”
This man has no confidence to win the match. If a coach is sounding so pessimistic, what would his players do? By the way, who is Tunisia to give nigeria such panic even in our own backyard. What happened to the days when opponents were scared stiff to come to Nigeria and play? If we fail to qualify for this world cup…….hmmm (I say no more)
Amodu is the worst coach in the world by all standards,how can you leave out highest goal scorer in two seasons Joseph Akpalla and Akpalla is Nigerias best striker and also inform Obafemi Martins for Utaka that has not scored a league goal in two seasons.Okay because Utaka de send am pounds.NIGERIAN FACTOR.What is he doing with Enaramo who is too old and a misser of chances.Tunisia is not the problem eventhough we win.We cant beat Kenya in Nairobi I bet you all
Oga Amodu, win ,win AND win is our portion in JESUS name . Amen .Who is tunisia on a good day ? SUPER EAGLES are going to fly in South Africa come 2010 . Haba ? Even the spirit of our past Footballers will be with us during the match on august 6 . Remember we just honoured the late SAM OKWARAJI ? His fighting spirit will PROPEL the players to succeed . GOD Bless NIGERIA
with adequate preparations put in place,Amodu and his boys should know what is at stake.Let them approach the game with caution,they will surely beat Tunisia
I hope amodu will not compromise this crucial game with his mindset already on failure,he will be out of his job is not too good for us.There is a problem already better watchout.
i am residing in South Africa if coach Amodu kwns hw important this winning is to us here in south africa,he will carefully win the game.