DAILY SUN
J
ohn Utaka has promised a 120% effort for Nigeria if he is picked for the next year's AFCON in South Africa. The striker, who made a goal-scoring return for French champion, Montpellier, last weekend against Nice after he was sidelined by a groin injury, said his commitment to Nigeria was not negotiable. “It's the coach who
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
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Nations Cup: Utaka dreams Eagles return …Says his commitment to Nigeria not negotiable decides who to invite, but for me any time I am given the chance, I will give a 120% for my country, said Utaka, who started two qualifiers under Stephen Keshi in June. Utaka started 2014 World Cup qualifiers against
Namibia and Malawi and was dropped for the 2013 AFCON qualifier at home against Rwanda after he failed to fired blanks in both games. He said Nigeria had the quality to win a third Nations
Cup trophy in South Africa because Keshi had made remarkable progress with the team since he took charge last year. "We have what it takes to win the Nations Cup in South Africa,” he told
MTNFootball.com “Coach Keshi has been doing a great job and anyone who is following the work of the coach will admit that huge progress has been made.” However, he warned that a first round group that pitched the Eagles against defending champion, Zambia, Burkina
Faso and Ethiopia ought not to be taken lightly. "I have seen our group and I must confess that no team in that group is easy. Africa football is a different ball game now and you know that any country that files out against Nigeria wants to make history by beating Nigeria," he warned.
DAILY SUN
Sports
International friendly
Keshi to test fresh blood ...Against Venezuela
N
igeria’s Coach, Stephen Keshi, has said he would pick several players who are yet to feature for his team for a friendly against Venezuela. Next week, the Eagles’ coach is also expected to make public his list of call-ups for the game billed for Miami, USA. The match will be played on November 14 and forms part of Nigeria's build-up to the 2013 AFCON, in which she is drawn alongside defending champion, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. Keshi said, "I have plans to invite some new legs for the Venezuela friendly. They may not be new to Nigerians, but I say they are new because it would be the first time they would be playing under me." The Eagles’ former captain, who was not willing to give away some of the names, added,"As I have said every Nigerian player will have his chance." However, top officials of the football house have revealed to MTNFootball.com that "Keshi is looking at ways of strengthening his team and plans to bring in players such as Obafemi Martins, Onyekachi Apam, Joseph Akpala and Peter Utaka." Keshi will now set his pre-AFCON training camp in Faro, Portugal, after his choice of Zimbabwe was overruled for lack of facilities.