Amaju Pinnick with Super Eagles
The newly-elected president of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick is pleased with the preparations of the Super Eagles ahead of their double-header with Sudan.
Pinnick observed the training exercise of the Super Eagles at the main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium on Tuesday.
Amaju was accompanied by the NFF vice president, Mr Seyi Akinwunmi, Executive Committee member, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, NFF, Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and Dr Mohammed Sanusi, who is the Director of Competitions at the Football.
The president confessed that he was satisfied with the tactical aspect of the training which he believes would bring the best out of the players.
“I am very happy with the training exercise of the Super Eagles. They are doing serious tactical play. On the part of the newly invited players they are all enthusiastic and trying to give their all to justify their call up. So every player is giving all attention to the training and I am very happy to witness this.”
He also vowed to ensure the Eagles come out with the needed victory by throwing the full weight of the NFF behind the team.
“I told the team and their technical crew that we will do all within our capabilities and powers as a federation to help them achieve success in these qualifiers. I told them that our existence as a Federation hinges on the fact that they are there as players playing for the nation. So without them there won’t be us.
“I told the players that they are our heroes and the Nigeria Football Federation will always treat them as such so they must at all times give their best in the interest of football loving Nigerians. The team captain on behalf of the team assured me and my Board members that they will do their utmost best to beat Sudan and eventually pick the 2015 Afcon qualification ticket.”
Pinnick, however, disclosed that he would meet with his Board members to iron out the traveling schedules of the team for the Sudan match.
“I am thinking about chattering a plane to convey the Eagles to and fro Sudan but I will meet with the Board members to decide on this,” he told Goal in Abuja.
In the mean time, interim coach Stephen Keshi has ruled out winger Michael Babatunde’s participation in Saturday’s game against the Falcons of Jediane due to an injury the player picked up at his club.
He is expected to be fit enough for the return match on Wednesday October 15 in Abuja.
Source: Goal.com
