Nigeria: Nations Cup – Siasia Sanctions Espionage On Guinea

Olawale Ajimotokan

15 March 2011

Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia Monday night, told reporters of his desire to have a Nigerian assessor on the ground during the corresponding fixture between Madagascar and Guinea on March 27 in Antananarivo.

The Group B match will hold on the same day the Eagles will take on Ethiopia in the African Cup of Nations qualifier in Abuja.

Siasia said that the mission would afford the Eagles technical crew vital information on the philosophy of Nigeria’s two major rivals ahead of their visits to the country this year.

Assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf is touted for the mission to the Madagascan capital on the Indian Ocean subject to the ratification of the NFF technical department.

Guineacurrently maintains a three-point buffer over Nigeria following their slim victory over the Eagles in the reverse fixture in Conakry on October 10, 2010.

The Ethiopia match will be Siasia’s first competitive match in charge of the Eagles since he was handed the national job in December last year. Though his task will be cut out, Siasia aligned himself with public expectation by insisting that a win of any shape is all that matters.

“They have a Nigerian coach (Ify Onuoha) who is very good, but this match is a matter of life and death for us. We have to employ everything we know in this world to win it. I don’t have any score margin in mind; what matters is that we just have to beat Ethiopia,” he said.

The ex-international also admitted his job has been made easy as he was now in possession of some recent video clips of Ethiopia supplied by the NFF technical department.

Similarly, he said he was weighing the option to invite Warri Wolves star, Ambrose Vanzekim as a cover for established goalkeepers, Vincent Enyeama and Dele Aiyenugba, who are expected to report late because of club engagements.

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