Tony Ubani
18 May 2011
FORMER Super Eagles coach, Chairman Christian Chukwu, has warned Samson Siasia and his Super Eagles to beware of the deceptive antics of Argentina in their June 1 international friendly at the national stadium, Abuja.
Argentina hold the trump card in previous meetings with Nigeria and coach Sergio Batista has named a 20-man squad excluding one-man riot squad, Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez.
The list gives Chukwu cause for concern and he has alerted his compatriot to be wary and not be deceived by the absence of the star players.
“Siasia should not be fooled by the list that excludes Messi and co. They are still a deadly squad”, Chukwu who said, adding that thematch would bring honour to the country.
The first Nigerian captain to lift the African Cup of Nations, however, wished that Messi and other stars were included on the list.
“The presence of Messi would have made many fans literally go mad. Messi is phenomenal. It is not every time you see a player like him. I would have been happier if he was in the squad but that does not remove anything from the Argentines.
It is like in the past when some countries insisted on seeing the likes of Jay Jay Okocha or Kanu in the Eagles. Certain players possess charms that make fans happy. Messi alone would have made fans walk on their heads”, Chukwu who also coached the national team to a bronze medal in the 2004 Nations Cup said.
Chuwkwu who is also a member of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation urged Siasia to continue in his rebuilding work and present a team that would halt Argentina’s enviable runs against Nigeria.
Argentina’s Squad
GABBARINI, Adrian — C.A. Independiente,
Argentina
ZABALETA, Pablo — Manchester City.
England
ANGELERI, Marcos — Sunderland AFC,
England
GARAY, Ezequiel — Real Madrid, Spain
OTAMENDI, Nicolas — Porto FC, Portugal
FAZIO, Federico — Sevilla, Spain
BELLUSCHI, Fernando — Porto FC, Portugal
CABRAL, Alejandro — Legia Varsovia, Poland
FORMICA, Mauro — Blackburn Rovers,
England
INSUA, Emiliano — Galatasaray, Turkey
CRISTALDO, Jonathan — Metalist Kharkiv, Ukraine
GAITAN, Nicolas — Benfica, Portugal
PIATTI, Pablo — Almeria, Spain
RUBEN, Marco — Villarreal, Spain
JARA, Franco — Benfica, Portugal
PEROTTI, Diego — Sevilla, Spain
BOSELLI, Mauro — Genoa, Italy
BERTOLO, Nicolas — Real Zaragoza, Spain
COSTA, Tino — Valencia, Spain
MUSACCHIO, Mateo — Villareal, Spain
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Nigeria: Don’t be Fooled by Argentina’s List