By Tony Ubani , Abuja
SUPER Eagles coach, Samson Siasia confessed Tuesday that the absence of mercurial Lionel Messi is a relief to him and his players as they face the South Americans today in a historic friendly match at the Abuja national stadium. “Who wont be relieved that Messi who has mesmerized clubs and countries won’t be here to torment my team?”, Siasia said in a Press Conference at the Hilton hotel in Abuja.

He however said that they have good a team that would give the Argentines a fight for prestige. “We are playing for prestige because as we play Argentina, our mind and hope will be in Ethiopia. That match is more important than this friendly. But we will give it our all because Nigerians will also judge us on it”.

As the Super Eagles tackle Argentina today, Siasia deserves some credits, he said. He. re mains only Nigerian player to have scored against Argentina at the senior national level when the South Americans beat the Eagles 2-1 at the USA 1994 World Cup. Siasia scored the lone goal for Nigeria but has suffered more heartache in the hands of the Argentines at the Under 17 and at Olympic level. Looking very unruffled, Siasia predicted that one of his players would shatter the record books and join him as another Nigerian to have scored and also beat Argentina.

“We will have the privilege of having another Nigerian scoring tomorrow (today) and break that record. We know Argentina to be great nation of ball jugglers, but we are going to match them with our tactical discipline. The Argentines complained about Nigeria’s physical play but Siasia said that they would be careful not to commit fouls the Argentines would use to punish them. “We are still building a new team but we are conscious of committing fouls that will give them the advantage. We are a tactically disciplined side.

WE will give a good account of ourselves but remember that we have a far more important match against Ethiopia than a friendly”, Siasia said.

Our focus remains Ethiopia – Yobo

Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo is keen to see the team play with passion against Argentina, but says the focus remains on Ethiopia. Yobo and his teammates square up against the Albiceleste at the Abuja National Stadium today and the defender is intent to see that the team know what is important.

“This is a friendly game and we will go there to give hundred percent and defend our pride,” he says. “But we have to understand that the important game for us is against Ethiopia this weekend. The result against Argentina does not matter, but we cannot afford not to win against Ethiopia.”

Yobo has lost twice playing against Argentina, but he says this time the result will be different.

“Tomorrow (Today) will be a different game. We will go out there to give them a very good game because we want to use it as preparation for our game against Ethiopia.”