The Moment<\/a> (London)<\/p>\nOladipo Okubanjo<\/p>\n
2 December 2011<\/p>\n
\nTHE national Under 23 side, Dream Team V, would stop at nothing, including shedding blood if necessary, for Nigeria to compete in the football competition in Olympic Games next year, troubled coach Austin Eguavoen has declared.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian side, which lost two previous games, must beat Algeria today with two clear goals and hope that Morocco beats Senegal in the corresponding fixture, to revive their Olympic ambition.<\/p>\n
But it seems Eguavoen’s job has been made easy with coach of the Morocco Junior Lions, Pim Verbeek, vowing that his team, already through to the semi-final of the eight-nation CAF U-23 Championship with six points, will go for the maximum points against Senegal.<\/p>\n
‘We will play with our blood and leave the rest to fate,’ Eguavoen told journalists in Morocco.<\/p>\n
‘You will see a different team on Friday. We may have an outside chance of qualification but we will fight for the pride of our country, play with our blood and leave the rest to fate.’<\/p>\n
However, speaking in an interview with cafonline.com, an Internet publication of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Verbeek said his team does not play for a draw.<\/p>\n
‘Our mentality is to always go into matches looking to win; of course we are aware of what is needed but we will not be playing for a draw for sure.<\/p>\n
‘In the last 10 minutes, depending on what is happening in the other game, if we need a point then we will safeguard that and not leave ourselves vulnerable at that stage, but for 80 minutes we are definitely searching for victory,’ said Verbeek.<\/p>\n
Morocco leads Group A with six points from two matches, while Algeria and Senegal are second and third, with three points each, and Nigeria precariously sits at the bottom with no point.<\/p>\n
AllAfrica – All the Time<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n