Don’t write Eagles off, Sodje

By Philips Adefioye
Super Eagles defender, Sam Sodje says the Eagles still have hope of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa despite  being written off  by Nigerians.

Sodje who was among the players invited for the match against the Black Mambas of Mozambique in Abuja said that the slim victory against the Mozambicans signified that the Eagles are still in contention. He said that the last match against the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Nairobi  will not be taken for granted.

“We are not going to give up as far as this qualifying race is concerned. The same thing happened in the 2006 World Cup qualifier between the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon when the Ivorians thought all was over  but they never gave up and at the end  they got the sole ticket in that group.

Despite the 2-2 draw against the Tunisians, we are still on course. We will make sure that no point will be given out in the last match against Kenya.”

The Reading Football Club of England defender said that the mistake against Tunisia would never occur against the Kenyans, stressing that though the Kenyans play good football, they would be checked in that crucial match.
Meanwhile,Eagles midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana has said that they are battle ready for the match as he assured that the situation against Tunisia will not repeat itself.

“We have learn t our lesson from that  draw against the Carthage Eagles, we are promising that the same thing will not happen again. We have ourselves to blame for that draw but the mistakes will be corrected. We are going to fight to the end, we are not losing hope of playing in  South Africa.

The only thing to appease Nigerians is to get the sole ticket in our group. I know that it will be hard  for Nigerians to believe that we will qualify, but our eyes are on the World Cup,” said Olofijana.  .