Posted by By Sunday Akintoye on
Former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joseph Erico, has advised coach Shuaibu Amodu and his team not to underrate Colombia in the international friendly football match, scheduled for 19 November, in Bogota.
Former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joseph Erico, has advised coach Shuaibu Amodu and his team not to underrate Colombia in the international friendly football match, scheduled for 19 November, in Bogota.
Erico said Amodu will face a tough battle against Colombia due to the absence of some key players. Some members of the Super Eagles will not feature in the friendly due to injury and club assignments.
'Every game is tough and I don't think a friendly tie with Colombia will be an exception. Nigeria should expect a tough game against Colombia, so the Eagles should not underrate their opponents,' Erico said.
The former Eagles' goalkeeper trainer said this is the time for coach Amodu to test some of his young players to fortify the team. He said the challenges Amodu will face is how to blend these young players to battle Colombia.
'I think coach Amodu has no choice than to use the young players. This is the time for the young players to show their readiness for the Eagles or not,' Erico said.
The former Stationery Stores of Lagos goalkeeper said the friendly game against Colombia is not all about winning. It should provide the ground for Nigeria to discover some players who will play for the country in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers which begin next year.
'Nigerians are interested in winning But football is about winning and losing. I am looking forward to seeing the Eagles play a good game. England, Brazil and Argentina don't win all their friendlies. What they are after is to use such friendy matches to build a strong team. So, I am expecting a good performance from our players, not really the result,' he said.
Speaking on Amodu's working visit to some clubs in the English Premiership, Erico commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for taking the initiative, adding that the visit will encourage a good relationship between Amodu and the English clubs.
He noted that Amodu will definitely utilise whatever he gains from the working visit to strengthen the Eagles when the World Cup qualifiers begin.
'It is a good idea. His visit to England will help the team. Amodu should be better as Eagles' coach when he returns from the working visit and hope this will help take his squad to the next level,' he said.