Nigeria: U-23 – Rabiu Urges Colleagues to Play as aUnit

Daily Independent (Lagos)

28 April 2011

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim has charged his U-23 team mates to play as a unit in this weekend All Africa Games first round second leg qualifier against Liberian counterpart at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium Benin City.

Rabiu told his colleagues before departing for the Netherlands on Wednesday not to underrate the Liberians but play to the instructions of Coach Austin Eguavoen.

“It will not be an easy game. I advise that they play as a unit because I know the Liberians will be out to frustrate us. But above all they must play to the coaches instructions,” Rabiu appealed.

He expressed the confidence that the team would triumph over their Liberian opponent. “But you know I have no doubt in my mind; looking at the array of talents at the disposal of the Coach, I even feel sorry for Coach Eguavoen because he faces the challenge of selection. I only wish I was there”.

On the state of his injury, the said that he was fast recovery but needed to rest his knee in line with doctor’s advice.

“I feel a lot better now compared to the last time we spoke. But like you know I need to rest the leg a lot more in line with doctor’s advice and I will undergo further examination when I arrive my club in Holland. But sincerely it’s fast improving” he stated.

Rabiu was a victim of a twin tackle from two Liberian defenders at the Samuel Kayon Doe stadium in the first leg of the AAG first round qualifier.

The player who has since arrived PSV Eindhoven is expected to be fully fit for the team’s first leg second round Olympic Games qualifier against Tanzania in the first week of June.

Meanwhile, Lillestrom of Norway midfielder Nosa Igiebor on Thursday morning, arrived the ISNO Hotel camp of the team to take the number of foreign based players in camp to seven following the earlier arrival of Hapoel Acre of Israel star Dimaku Tochukwu, Pontevedra of Spain goal keeper Dele Ajiboye, Solomon Okpako Panionios of Greece, Atletico Baleares of Spain defender Edet Ibok, Uchechi Chima of Leicester City – England, and Kieng Giang of Vietnam striker Ganiyu Oseni.

AC Milan of Italy winger Nnamdi Oduamadi and Spain based Harmony Ikande were expected last night.

Dinamo Tirana- of Albania defender Nurudeen Orelesi is ruled out of the encounter following his club’s refusal to release him.

Chief Coach Austin Eguavoen on Thursday morning took six of the foreign based invitee through a thorough drill session to ascertain their fitness level.

The players who attended the special session were Dele Ajiboye, Uchechi Chima, Dimaku Tochukwu, Solomon Okpako, Edet Ibok, and Ganiyu Oseni.

Eguavoen with assistants from Stanley Eguma, Ben Iroha and Alloy Agu took the players through shuttle runs, ball work and penalty shot out.

After the session coach Eguavoen expressed satisfaction with the fitness level of the players.” I am satisfied with what I have seen” he said.

The team will have two more training sessions before the game on Saturday.

The Nigeria Liberia match kicks off by 4pm at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City.

The first leg ended 1-1 in Monrovia.

AllAfrica – All the Time