2010 World Cup Qualifier: Nigeria 3 Kenya 0 - Amodu says Eagles are super-winning team

By Ade Somefun, Abuja - 08.06.2009

Nigeria’s Ikechukwu Uche (left) contesting
the ball with Kenyan players during
yesterday’s 2010 World Cup qualifier at
the National Stadium, Abuja. NAN PhotoTHE Super Eagles on Sunday at the National Stadium, Abuja, restored the hope of playing in the 2010 World Cup with a 3-0 demolition of the Harambee Stars of Kenya to remain second on the table with four points behind Tunisia, which chalked up six points.

The Eagles, captained by Seyi Olofinjana, shot into the lead in the second minute, through Ikechukwu Uche, who displaced goalkeeper Arnold Origi with a clinical grounder off a solo move.

However, the goal failed to demoralise the Kenyans as they became even more cohesive to put the Eagles under threat. The Kenyan side, propelled by Daniel Oliech, lost a couple of scoring chances especially in the first half, which could have made the game more difficult for the homers.

Nwankwo Kanu came on to replace Dickson Etuhu at the start of the second half, and the inclusion of the ageless Portsmouth of England player fired up the Eagles in no small way. Substitute Obinna Nsofor, who replaced Eneramo in the 54th minute, eventually increased the tally as he converted a spot-kick awarded the Eagles in the 71st minute, after Osaze Odemwingie was brought down.

Six minutes later, Nsofor again made it three as he employed sheer brilliance to outwit a Kenyan defender on the edge of the box before he unleashed a thunderous shot into the roof of the net. The feat by the Eagles was good enough to win the $200,000 package promised by the Presidential Task Force headed by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

Speaking at the post-match conference Super Eagles head coach, Amodu Shaibu described the Eagles as a super-winning team, adding that the team was a highly-competitive one because all the players are top players doing well with their respective clubs.

He submitted that until he made his substitutions, the Eagles’ game plan was not going as strategised, adding that the Eagles came back to the game with the inclusion of the substitutes. Asked why he refused to remove Olofinjana, Amodu said, “He did not play too well and he did not play too badly.”

On his part, two-goal scorer, Obinna Nsofor, said the Eagles had resolved after their draw game against Mozambique to bounce back to reckoning in the qualifiers, adding that their plan was to use the friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and France as energisers.

He noted that the Eagles knew the task ahead of them in the qualifying series, saying that their next match against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia would not be amn easy one. He, however, promise that they would do everying possible to ensure Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup in South Africa.

On his part the Stars coach, Antoine Hay, said his tactics was to contain the Eagles in the first 15 minutes of the game, lamenting that the Eagles scored their first goal in the second minute of the game. He added that they had their chance but failed to utilise them.

He, however, expressed happiness in the Harambee Stars, saying that they did not fall to the Eagles as a pack of cards as they put up a spirited fight.