Duro Ikhazuagbe
Super Eagles players and their handlers have set sight on victory today as Nigeria takes on Czech Republic in the last warm-up game in Austria before heading to the World Cup in Russia. Kick off time is 2pm Nigerian time.
With tough Group D opposition with countries like Croatia, Iceland and perennial nemesis, Argentina at the Mundial kicking off in eight days from today, Eagles need the victory to rev up their morale.
Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, admitted at the team’s pre-World Cup camp in Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria, that
a win is the ultimate target this afternoon.
“We will go for victory that would boost spirit and earn team
confidence ahead of our first match in Russia. It would not be an easy
pick but we will work hard for it,†observed the Franco-German gaffer.
The game is holding against a backdrop of consecutive losses in friendly matches against Serbia and England with Nigeria’s first match of the FIFA World Cup against Croatia only nine days away.
Earlier, Eagles defeated Argentina and Poland in their first two friendly games of the preparation for the battle in Russia. Their only draw was against DR Congo.
Super Eagles Midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo also said yesterday that the friendlies have sort of prepared the team for the opposition to face when the World Cup begins.
“The friendly games we have played have exposed us to many things and also made us better,†he noted in an interview with a news agency from Russia.
“We are in a tough group but we won’t be cowed by Argentina and Croatia big names. We are here to make our nation proud and we will achieve that,†the former Warri Wolves player concluded.
Wednesday’s encounter at the Rudolf Tonn Stadium – a multi-use facility in Rannersdorf, a city in the sub-division of Schwechat, outside Vienna – will be the third official meeting between Nigeria and Czech.
Nigeria and then Czechoslovakia drew 1-1 in a group phase match at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, with Vizek scoring for the Czechs in the first half and Henry Nwosu equalising for the Eagles with six minutes left on the clock.
Nigerian forward Emmanuel Osigwe had a goal from a long range free-kick disallowed.
The Czechs edged their second meeting in Rabat on 11th December 1996
by two goals to one – as part of the King Hassan Cup Tournament.
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
Nigeria vs Czech Rep (2.00pm)
Belgium vs Egypt (7.45pm)
Norway vs Panama (8.00pm)
Belarus vs Hungary (8.00pm)
