Onazi, Ejide, Oboabona say Eagles must be at best against Congo

Three Super Eagles players on Wednesday in Abuja
said the team would have to be at their best if they
were to beat their Congolese counterparts in Pointe
Noire.
The Eagles will face the Red Devils on Saturday in a
crucial 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in
Pointe Noire.
Ogenyi Onazi, a Super Eagles midfielder, said that a
win was not negotiable, adding that they must win the
game in order to remain in contention for a place at
the tournament.
“We know what is at stake and we have to give our
best to get all three points and make sure we remain in
the qualifying campaign to qualify for AFCON,” he said.
The SS Lazio of Italy midfielder was one of the early
arrivals to the Super Eagles’ camp in Abuja.
The 21-year-old has been an integral member of the
team since making his debut in late 2012 and has
gone on to represent Nigeria at the 2013 AFCON in
South Africa.
He was also at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June,
where he helped the African champions reach the round
of 16, where they lost to France.
Austin Ejide, the team’s vice-captain, on his part said
they must work as a team in order to overcome the Red
Devils of Congo.
“We have to believe in ourselves and work as a team,
because we have to work more. From the goalkeeper to
the strikers, everybody has to keep working and keep
running.
“If all of us run as hard as we should and don’t lose
the ball unnecessarily, then we should be good.”
A reserve player for most of his time with the national
team, Ejide said he was more concerned about how the
team fared, rather than whether he plays or not.
“Any of us can start in goal, but only one will play and
we will support whoever plays.
“Vincent (Enyeama) is a very good goalkeeper and has
been with the team for a long time like me. Chigozie
(Agbim) is also very good as well.
“So, it’s not a problem for any of us, all we need is the
three points,” the goalkeeper with Hapoel Be’er Sheva
of Israel said.
Also, Godfrey Oboabona, a defender, said he was firm
in his belief that he and his teammates would qualify
for the 2015 AFCON.
He told NAN that the 2015 AFCON qualifiers against
Congo and South Africa on Saturday and Wednesday
respectively were “a must-win for Nigeria’’.
Oboabona said he remained confident about their
chances, adding that he was absolutely sure Nigeria
would still qualify.
“I still have confidence we will qualify. I don’t have
any doubts whatsoever as I am 100 per cent sure we
will qualify because I have confidence in the team,” he
said.
The central defender with Caykur Rizespor of Turkey,
however, acknowledged the Super Eagles’ current poor
run of form, adding “while we can’t win all games, we
must keep fighting to win as many as possible.
“Sometimes, you win and sometimes you don’t. But we
have to keep fighting and keep winning as many
games as possible and ensure that we get the most
important ones,” he said.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, are in a very
tight situation at present, as they are third in their
qualifying group behind South Africa and Congo.
They however have to now beat both teams in a space
of four days to have a chance of being at the 2015
AFCON.
Nigeria has four points from four matches played so
far, while Sudan is at the bottom of the Group A table
with three points.
South Africa is leading the group with eight points
followed by Congo Brazzaville with seven points.
The Super Eagles final qualifier game is against South
Africa on Nov. 19 at the Akwa Ibom International
Stadium in Uyo.