Nigeria would have beaten four-time world champions Italy on Monday but showed them too much respect, according to coach Stephen Keshi.

Monday night’s friendly at Craven Cottage ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

“Maybe, we had too much of respect for them, but am sure if by chance we meet at the World Cup, we will put up a better performance,” Keshi, looking back at the game said.

*Eagle’s coach, Keshi

He therefore demanded more work and focus from his players in the lead-up to next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

“It’s time to go back and work hard for our various clubsides and stay healthy, because that will form the basis for invitation when we resume next year,” he said.

“The truth is that not everybody here will go to the World Cup, but that is how football goes, so those who want to be part of the team must remain fit and play regularly for their clubsides.”

England-based stars like Mikel Obi, Shola Ameobi and Victor Moses have since rejoined their clubs.

Keshi and other team officials are expected back in Nigeria on Thursday morning, as they will depart London Wednesday night via HeathrowAirport for Lagos.

Keshi is expected to start preparations for the 2014 CHAN early December, with only home-based professionals. The event holds in January in South Africa.

Ochei congratulates Eagles, calls for unity

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon (Engr) Victor Ochei, says that Super Eagles qualification for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, underscores the need for Nigerians to harness the abundant human and material resources within the country and in the diaspora as a veritable platform for enhanced reckoning in the comity of nations.

He made the observation in his congratulatory message to the nation’s senior team that secured a berth at the Brazil 2014 soccer mundial through an overwhelming defeat to Ethiopia in the final qualifying match in Calabar, which he describes as reinforcing Nigeria’s ascendancy to impressive reckoning in the global soccer fraternity, considering the recent exploit of Nigeria’s Eaglets that emerged champions of the FIFA U-17 Soccer Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

Hon Ochei deposed further that these accomplishments which began with emerging African Champions at the 2013 AFCON, as well as clinching the Mandela Trophy both in South Africa give credence to the fact that Nigeria is a prospective world beater.