BY JACOB AJOM
Former Nigeria international, Jonathan Akpoborire has expressed satisfaction over what he termed “the smooth build up” of the Super Eagles ahead of the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

In a chat with Sports Vanguard in Lagos, the 1985 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner noted that unlike previous World Cups, “our preparations this time have been less chaotic and I pray it continues this way until it dovetails to the tournament proper.”

Looking ahead of the international friendly against Scotland, Akpoborire said, “every match is important to the team right now. We should not really look at the results. What matters is the impact the friendly matches will have on the team

He, however, called for early camping before the tournament proper in June, saying that the players should resume at the pre-World Cup camp as soon as the European season ends.

“We have no time,” he told Sports Vanguard in Lagos at the weekend, adding that “the players need serious and intensive training in the three weeks or so that they have before the tournament.”

“On team selection and who represents Nigeria in Brazil, I think Keshi should be left alone to select his team. Once in a while, we ex-internationals can only chip in a word or two, in terms of advice but it is Keshi who is the boss. At the end of the day, it is he who gets fired if the team does not do well.”

We have what we need to get what we want. Only the defence has a slight problem but I feel such could be fixed before the World. We have a good squad and expect them to do well at the tournament.