The Association of Sports Veterans in Nigeria has urged the Super Eagles to remain focused and beat the Bafana Bafana of South Africa very well when both teams play in Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie.
In a release issued by the association’s president, Chief Jonathan Ogufere, the body urged the present crop of players to replicate the form of the 1984 set of Super Eagles who began their quest for USA ’94 World Cup qualification with a 4-0 defeat of South Africa.
“A comprehensive defeat of South Africa is therefore what Nigerians expected on Saturday, remarked Chief Ogufere who is a former president of West African Football Union, WAFU.
According to Ogufere, who was the founder of Vasco da Gama, Enugu, the club that Patrick Ekeji, former Director General of the National Sports Commission began his club football career, another reason why the Super Eagles must win well was because it was South Africa that stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the 2015 edition of the competition.
“It is time for vengeance”, Chief Ogufere urged. He praised the Nigeria Football Federation, the Super Eagles players and the technical crew for the almost two-week training session and friendly matches the Nigeria had ahead of Saturday’s match.
“That’s the way to prepare for important assignments. He urged the players to ensure that the long camping reflects in the outcome of Saturday’s match.
“Winning the match very well will also be a good memorial for the two former Super Eagles’ coaches, Stephen Keshi and Amodu Keshi who passed on about this time last year.
“I praise the efforts of Coach Gernot Rohr so far. He should ensure that the unbeaten run that the team has been having is sustained”, Chief Ogufere concluded.