AGALI: EAGLES MUST QUALIFY NIGERIA FOR 2014 WORLD CUP

AGALI: EAGLES MUST QUALIFY NIGERIA FOR 2014 WORLD CUP

Posted: Mar 07, 2013

Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Agali tells JOHNNY EDWARD, that he was impressed with the team’s performance at the 2013 AFCON,  urging the players to beat Kenya on March 23 in Calabar.

It’s been a while since we heard from you Victor?

 Well… yes I have been busy with my academy project. I’m trying to get the place ready for it to kick-start in two months. It’s my own little way of trying to help in the development of the game and also produce talents that would play up to the highest level.

 You watched the Super Eagles win the just concluded AFCON- the third time for the country. Did you expect them to achieve that?

 To be honest, I didn’t but the entire team showed character to win that competition against all odds. They started a bit shaky but as the tournament progressed, they matured with the complexities of the game and managed the pressure very well.

 Did you feel any pressure when you played for the Super Eagles?

 Pressure is something that comes with playing for the national team. I did encounter some when I was new in the team. But if you’re focused, you will overcome such pressure. It’s normal for Nigerian fans to underrate their team but as players, it’s down to them to show why they should be on the pitch representing the nation. Now they have done that by winning the 2013 Nations Cup but they have to be consistent in their play. We have a good team that other countries would always want to defeat and they must show enough character each time they step out to represent the country.

How did you receive the news about Keshi’s face-off with the NFF midway into the tournament?

To blame the NFF was ludicrous. That move spurred the team.  We’ve always been written off each time we qualify for a tournament even if I didn’t like it, but the fact is that it served as a catalyst to our success in South Africa. They did well. The players should henceforth know that as long as they are consistent and they keep winning, the fans and indeed everyone in Nigeria will always back them but those fans won’t do that whenever they fail even if they did their very best.

With the triumph in South Africa, the Eagles will face current World and European Champions Spain, Tahiti and Uruguay in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil later this year. How well do you think this team will perform at that tournament?

We should stop looking at the strength of other teams and forgetting that we can be dangerous as well if we play to our strength. Just like the game against Cote d’Ivoire, nobody gave the boys a chance but they played a great match thereby forcing the Ivorians to forget their own pattern of play. We have the talents, no doubt, but a little belief is what this young team needs to soar above their current level.

 Which player would you single out as your best performer in South Africa?

All of them I must say- from Efe Ambrose at right back to Elderson Echiejile who never stopped joining the attack and the two young centre backs caging some of the best African best strikers. The defence conceded only four goals which for me were brilliant for a backline playing together for the first time at the major tournament like the Nations Cup. The midfield I won’t single out any player there but the work ethics of the likes of Mba, Onazi Ogude brought the best we never saw in Mikel before. He played like a trojan and I think with that kind of performance, he has won back the heart of Nigerian fans once again.

In the attack, Emenike was fantastic just like his cohorts Ideye and Moses were also. The team did well and I think we should build on it and ensure this healthy rival continues.

 …and the technical crew led by Stephen Keshi?

 I played under him and I know him very well. He won’t settle for anything less and I’m not surprised by his achievements so far with the team. I will just advise the NFF to make the environment conducive for Keshi and his crew to operate so as to get the much desired result. It wasn’t the best of conditions he worked in prior and during the Nations Cup and he went on to win. So you can imagine what would have happened if he had enough support in South Africa.

 Eagles will face Kenya in Calabar later this month. What are your expectations?

The players that will be invited already know what they encountered at the Nations Cup and so I don’t expect them to get distracted by any pundit or commentators who will be predicting what and what will happen even before the game. They should get the job done on the pitch and ensure that we qualify for the 2014 World Cup at all cost. The Africa Nations Cup is over and what’s next now is the World Cup. We all know that the World Cup is a bigger competition and we mustn’t miss out.

You featured for the Super Eagles in three Nations Cup tournaments; do you think Nigeria has a team that can defend the title in the next edition?

 We have a bunch of players who could defend the Nations Cup for Nigeria. We have the pedigree and a coach who could win the title for us. I’m a Nigerian and I will be backing the team all the time to win the trophy irrespective of the teams we are going to face in future.---Complete Sports




Make Victor Agali let us hear word jo. When he had the opportunity to represent his fatherland, he was busy abusing NFA officials that are old enof 2 be his parents; abi e think say we don forget.
Thats why i pity Osaze cos he seems 2 think what he is doin will end now but no it will not. in another thirty years wen he talks, we wud remind him of how he used 2 abuse his coaches on twitter...