Nigeria: Maputo 2011 – Euro Clubs May Sabotage Dream Team

Olawale Ajimotokan

28 June 2011

Nigeria faces an uphill task ahead of the visit to Accra on July 9 for the reverse All Africa Games fixture against Ghana, because of the indication that most of the key players may not be available for the trip.

On Saturday, the Dream team showed aplomb when they defeated traditional rivals, the Black Meteors 3-1 in Benin City in the first leg of the final qualifying series for Maputo 2011.

But coach Austin Eguavoen’s quest to maintain the two- goal cushion now looks shaky after Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) raised alarm about the intention of the European clubs to sabotage Nigeria’s effort by not releasing the players for the trip.

In the wake of the unfolding realities, Eguavoen might have to make do with home-based players for the do or die clash at Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra.

We learnt yesterday that the technical committee of the NFF headed by Chris Green has been unsettled by the unfolding scenario and is trying to work a way out of the situation.

Sources at the NFF revealed that some of the players have complained to the federation that their foreign clubs have asked them to report for pre season training programme, which incidentally coincides with the return trip to Accra.

Related to this situation is that Nosa Igiebor, who scored two goals against Ghana, has been asked by his club in Norway to report as the Norwegian season is still on full stream.

Ghana underlined the essence attached to the match as it fielded six members of the mainstream Black Star for the riveting clash in Benin, and will be baying for blood in their bid to cancel the deficit in the second leg in Accra next month.

AllAfrica – All the Time