By Onochie Anibeze
After yesterday’s training session in Calabar, Stephen Keshi simply said this: “We are fine and ready for the match. I think that we have the team to make Nigerians happy.”

Nigeria will play Namibia on Sunday in a 2014 World Cup qualifier, travel to Malawi for another World Cup qualifier and return to Calabar for a Nations Cup match against Rwanda. Only last week, Eagles lost 1-0 to Peru in an international friendly. Keshi said yesterday that the match in Peru was a big lesson to him and the players and that what they learnt would be useful as they face Namibia in Calabar and subsequent matches.

“Peru was the biggest stage the players had seen. The atmosphere overwhelmed them in the first half. The crowd, the noise and everything was intimidating to them because they were not used to such atmosphere. How many people watch league matches in Nigeria? “When Heartland are playing in Owerri or Warri Wolves are playing in Akure or Abeokuta how many fans go to watch them? It couldn’t have been so if we had a very vibrant league.

Our players would have been used to big stages. If we play more of such matches the players will be different, they will develop faster.

I think that we are on the right track and with time we will be strong. Some of the mistakes we made are being corrected and from the way training is going we will make Nigerians happy on Sunday.”

ing in Akure or Abeokuta how many fans go to watch them? It couldn’t have been so if we had a very vibrant league.

Our players would have been used to big stages. If we play more of such matches the players will be different, they will develop faster. I think that we are on the right track and with time we will be strong.

Some of the mistakes we made are being corrected and from the way training is going we will make Nigerians happy on Sunday.”