Nigeria/Kenya: Kanu Declares Siasia Right Man for Eagles

31 March 2011

Nigeria’s newly appointed Football Ambassador, Nwankwo Kanu has saluted the flying start of coach Samson Siasia. The new Super Eagles coach has won his first three matches in charge of the Super Eagles.

He got off to a winning start last month by beating Sierra Leone 2-1 in a friendly before his team bombed Ethiopia 4-0 in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday. And on Tuesday night, Siasia’s Eagles soared above Kenya in a friendly match to win 3-0.

“He’s on the right footing. The team is scoring goals, not conceding and creating chances,” remarked Kanu, who watched as the Eagles dimmed the Harambee Stars of Kenya Tuesday in Abuja.

After over 17 years with the Eagles, Kanu has quit international football and will in the summer formally mark this with a testimonial, which is aimed at raising part of the $35 million he needs to build a heart specialist hospital in Abuja.

Chelsea star Mikel Obi, who wore the captain’s armband in the second half following the substitution of Joseph Yobo, has also hailed Siasia’s philosophy of attacking football.

He said: “Siasia wants to attack and we are working very hard to fulfil his philosophy. I want to play for him and work for the overall success of the team.”

The team’s recent exploits would most certainly improve Nigeria’s FIFA ranking of 39th. However, the bigger challenge for the 43-year-old coach will begin to kick in from June when Nigeria host Argentina and Lionel Messi in a high-profile friendly before they jet out for another Cup of Nations qualifier in Ethiopia, a few days later.

In September, they will be away to bottom team Madagascar in continuation of their Nations Cup qualification campaign, which they will round up with a home game against group leaders Guinea.

AllAfrica – All the Time