2013 Nations Cup: Nigeria Go For Broke Against Liberia

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will today take on the Lone Star of Liberia in a crucial 2013 Nations Cup qualifier. The qualifier which will take place in Monrovia is one of the games on the road to the tournament in South Africa next year. It will be two legged affair with the second leg coming up next month .The last time the Super Eagles met Liberia in a competitive game was in 2001 when the Liberians defeated Nigeria 2-1 in Monrovia before the Eagles won the return leg. The Super Eagles did not qualify for the last Nations Cup for the first time in 25 years and former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia lost his job in the aftermath. Stephen Keshi was brought in to restore pride to the country’s football and was given the mandate to qualify Nigeria for the Nations Cup next year and the 2014 World Cup to hold in Brazil. In the first qualifying stage, Nigeria defeated Rwanda 2-0 on aggregate to qualify for this stage. Coach Keshi invited 11 based foreign and local players for the game including new Chelsea signing Victor Moses. But notable absentees in the list are Osaze Odemwingie and John Mikel Obi. The Super Eagles are the overwhelming favourite for this encounter. They defeated Liberia in a friendly game in Monrovia 2-0 in March this year and Nigerian football fans will be expecting a similar scoreline today. The technical crew and the players said they are not taking the threat of Liberia very likely as they are no longer minnows in world football. Coach Keshi said: “A country that has produced the likes of George Weah, who became world best footballer cannot be said to be weak in talents, but we must show that we are stronger. I expect a tough, bruising game against Liberia and I trust that all of us will rise to the occasion,” Goalkeeping coach, Ike Shorunmu who is also an ex international said they will not underrate the Lone Star: “This is the last round of the qualifiers so we cannot afford to make any mistakes, not even to underrate any team. We cannot afford to underrate Liberia. At this stage of the competition every team is strong and should be tackled that way. Our objective is to qualify for the Nations Cup finals so we have to fight hard no matter who our opponents are. Experience has shown that no team is inferior in football again. And you have to take the Egypt/Central Africa Republic for example. So we are going to work hard and remain focused for the match bearing in mind that we have to make Nigerians happy by qualifying for the 2013 Nations Cup” Meanwhile, Super Eagles speedy winger, Ahmed Musa is confident ahead of the tie and believes the Lone Star pose no threat to the Super Eagles, “It is good draw for us. Liberia can’t stop us. They have a good team too, but we will beat them. I am looking forward to scoring goals in both games. I don’t think it will be so easy; they will come at us because they know we are better.”