Former Eagles midfielder, Thompson Oliha and ex-international, Peter Nieketien have called on Nigerians to support Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi in his bid to build a strong team.

The duo said in different conversations with with Sports Vanguard Sports that soccer loving Nigerians should try and forget about the Nations Cup ouster and focus on the future.

“The Super Eagles have failed especially in the aspect of qualifying for the Nations Cup. Now, what we have to do is to look to the future and not to look backward. Restoring the Super Eagles is simple, if Nigerians can only give him (Keshi) the chance and the opportunity to do the job. And I think there is nothing in the national teams that Keshi cannot do. So they should give him time to perform and not to impose players on him,” Oliha said.

Niekitien, in his view said,“I think, we should try and give the new coach the opportunity to give his best. The fact remains that majority of the players paraded during Samson Siasia tenure are same players that will still feature in the two matches. He has been there before as an assistant coach of the Eagles and he has also handled the Togo and Mali teams.

“My advice is that Keshi should be wiser than his predecessor so that he will not go the same way he (Sisaia) went. I believe with luck on his side, as well as players commitment to the team, he will succeed. Because if he doesn’t, the whole pressure comes back to ex-internationals.

And that is one statement I have refused to accept from football critics. The fact that one person failed does not mean others are not good. In all, we should give him the needed support and hope for the best in the end,” he concluded.