The major thing on Sunday Oliseh’s mind
today is not to lose to the Taifa Stars of Tanzania as he leads the
Super Eagles to the first major assignment in his managerial career. It
is a crucial match for the Super Eagles in the race to the 2017 Africa
Cup of Nations as they stand the chance of going top of Group G, which
currently has Egypt as leaders. Only one team will advance from the
group.
The Eagles started on a good note,
beating Chad 2-0 under former manager Stephen Keshi. But Egypt’s 3-0 win
over Tanzania in their first game meant Nigeria are second in the
group.
Nigeria have never lost to Tanzania
before since their first meeting in 1972. The Eagles have won four
times, while two of their meetings ended in draws.
While
Oliseh had only managed two Belgian third division clubs – Eupen (2007)
and Verviétois (2008) – his ambition to become Nigeria’s most
successful football manager starts today.
But he has decided to define his
standard by calling on some players who were in the past overlooked by
his predecessor. Players like Anzhi Makhachkala midfielder Lukman
Haruna, Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and Al Ain striker
Emmanuel Emenike were recalled, while first-timers Sylvester Igbonu (FC
Ufa) and Izunna Uzochukwu (FC Amkar Perm), both based in Russia, are on
their first international assignments.
Curiously, however, he left out the two
goal scorers against Chad – Warri Wolves’ Gbolahan Salami and Watford’s
OdionIghalo. Chelsea’s Mikel Obi and new West Ham United player Victor
Moses were also excluded.
Ikeme, who described his call-up as
shocking, first joined the national team under BertiVogts when the
Eagles were preparing for the 2008 AFCON.
“It’s more of the timing (that caused
the surprise call-up). I’ve been playing regularly for a while (at
Wolves), so if it came at that time, I would have expected it. But it’s
the start of the season and I’ve not really played much, maybe one game
(before the call-up). When the call-up comes towards the middle of the
season, when you’ve played maybe 20 games, then you think you can get a
call-up. But it came early in the season, that was why it shocked me,”
Ikeme confessed.
Oliseh is not fooled into believing
Tanzania are minnows that can be pushed aside easily. He expects a tough
challenge against the Taifa Stars, who will feature TP Mazembe duo of
MbwanaSamatta and Thomas Ulimwengu. Another influential player is Free
State Stars midfielder KalfanMrishsoNgassa.
The influence of these players, combined
with the support of their faithful fans and the experience of coach
Charles Boniface Nkwassa, who is being assisted by Dutchman Hans van Der
Plujm, is enough to inform Oliseh about what he is up against.
If the picture was not clear enough, watching the video tapes of the Tanzanians drove the message home for Oliseh.
“Tanzania are a very aggressive team,
and on that basis we might see a few surprises from the game because we
don’t know the philosophy of the new coach, and they are playing at
home,”Oliseh admitted after watching the video of the opponents’ recent
games.
He later told SuperSport.com after
arriving in Dar es Salaam on Thursday: “The game on Saturday will be my
first competitive match and as a coach you want nothing short of victory
but that is not to say it will be a walk in the park since our
opponents have been training together for a long time.
“I expect a tough and tight game from
the Tanzanians but we have to work hard as a team to maintain the
traditions of Nigeria, that’s why this match will be really important to
us as it will determine how we move to the next step.”
Oliseh’s men are also eager to get the job done and prove their doubters wrong.
Emenike, who was top scorer at the 2013 AFCON, is keen on showing to the world that he has regained his scoring form.
“It’s been tough not scoring for Nigeria
since 2013. Now, we’ll see what happens; we have a new coach and a new
team. I’ve seen the training and I think everything will be alright this
time around,” the former Fenerbahce forward told the Nigeria Football
Federation.
“It’s a good one for me to be in a team
like this (under Sunday Oliseh).The game is a must-win. Every team
against Nigeria always come up with their best because they want to win.
I think it’s going to be a tough game, but what I saw in our training
makes me believe we will win in Dar es Salaam. I strongly believe in the
coach and the players; we’re a team. I’m happy to be back.”
Former Dynamo Kyiv midfielder, Haruna,
whose last game for Nigeria was at the 2010 World Cup, is excited to be
back in the team, but is cautious not to underrate the Tanzanians.
He said, “I’m happy I’ve been recalled
to the Super Eagles; I hope I won’t be out of the team again. Some
people talk about my lifestyle and attitude, but that’s me. I can’t
change who I am. They say I’m stubborn but that’s not strange when you
play for a big team and against other big teams. I believe do everything
on the pitch for my country.
“I spoke with SundayOliseh, and he
convinced me as someone who has something to give the country. Everybody
in the team is here because he believes we have what it takes to win
with the team.
“I won’t boast ahead of the game, 90
minutes will judge. I’ll accept whatever comes out of the game, but
we’ll give our best not to lose any point.”
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