Madagascar tie: Siasia may change tactics
By Onochie Anibeze
Samson Siasia has been informed about the bumpy pitch where Eagles will play Madagascar in a crucial Nations Cup match this weekend.
The team is expected to leave for the match tomorrow and the Eagles may have the opportunity to train in Madagascar at least three times before the match on Sunday. The rule allows the visiting team at least one training session on the match venue.
If the Nigeria Football Federation makes a good case for the Eagles, the home FA may allow them more training sessions on the match venue because Madagascar are not in contention for a qualification ticket.
They have nothing to lose and should not add to Nigeria’s problems unless they are sympathetic to Guinea, Nigeria’s group rivals who are even topping the group table.
Whatever happens, Siasia says he has a picture of the conditions in Antananarivo and that they would strive to make the best of them. He may have to change tactics after feeling the surface.
“I have heard about the pitch and we have no option than to go there and adapt,” he said at the weekend.
“If it means changing tactics, we will do so. Of course, if the pitch is so bad that it cannot allow good passing of the ball we may have to play long balls.
It also means that we may not toy with the ball in our own half, no many passes in our goal area. We will come up with a way to play and win. We have the players.
What I need from them is for them to play with their hearts. This situation calls for fighting and I hope they put up a good fight in Madagascar.
We don’t have to allow them play. The players can do it. At this stage it is not only about tactics but also fighting spirit, the determination to win. If the players have the strong will to win, we will win because individually and otherwise, we should have a team to beat Madagascar,” Sisia said.
