Nigeria international Victor Obinna is pleased with the fresh start the Super Eagles have made.
West Ham United attacker Victor Obinna is very pleased with the new start Nigeria’s national side have made and the forward is confident the Super Eagles will manage to qualify for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup.

•CELEBRATION TIME ... Taye Taiwo celebrates after converting a penalty against Sierra Leone on Wednesday.

“There is a new atmosphere, a new backroom staff, new players and a new manager. This is a fresh start for all of us,” said Obinna.

“I know the coach very well. He encouraged us when we first started out, and I believe he is the right man for the job. He won’t fail Nigerians. He will turn around the fortunes of the Eagles because he knows how to make his players work for the whole team. I am thrilled to play under him again.

“I strongly believe that we will qualify for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup because we still have four matches to play.

“We will make sure that when we play the other games against Guinea at home and the remaining home and away matches against Madagascar and Ethiopia, we will win very well.  I am confident we will win these matches to reach the Nations Cup.”

This is my breakthrough — Okonkwo

By Jacob Ajom
Still basking in the euphoria of his performance against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, home boy, Chibuzor Okonkwo is confident, his contribution to the Super Eagles overall performance in Wednesday’s international friendly would guarantee him a place in coach Samson Siasia’s new look national team.

Okonkwo who is eagerly looking forward to the international invitational Obama Cup tournament in the USA told Sports Vanguard that he saw the Wednesday’s match as a breakthrough. “I will for long cherish this day,” Okonkwo said at the Eko Hotel camp of the Eagles hours after the match.

He added that the match had given him more confidence and the belief that he could actually compete among the best from any part of the world.

“I consider this match as a breakthrough and hope to build on it by working harder. It calls for seriousness, dedication and more commitment on my part,” the Heartland of Owerri defender said.