Guardian

AS Nigeria’s Super Eagles file out against their Namibia counterpart in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers Wednesday in Windhoek, Flying Eagles former star, Paul Okoku, has charged the team to diffuse the game plan of the Namibians.

Okoku, an optimist of the team said, he is sure the Coach Stephen Keshi-tutored side would triumph in the match.

“Of course victory all the way for Eagles. I would like to see an emotionally charged Super Eagles to come out smoking and play with zest. It is my hope to expect Nigeria to score more than a goal and to achieve this, they have to adhere to fundamentals, dictate and control the tempo of the game as well as keep quality possessions of the ball. They must also avoid making costly mistakes and exploit their opponent’s miscalculations by converting it to goals on every scoring opportunity,” he said.

He, however, said, “this is not to underrate their opponent because Namibia will definitely have a game plan to beat the Super Eagles. Super Eagles will have to device a strategy of keep punching them in the mouth to submission and to disorient their plan. In this instance, the momentum is on their side from their win over Kenya and they will need to sustain that to have a chance of defeating Namibia.”

“Nevertheless, again, to reiterate my expectation, it is nothing less than victory. All the same, I will settle for a draw over a defeat. Though, I am cautiously optimistic because I don’t know much about the Namibians but we are African Champions and any team we meet will try to beat us, if only to boost their ego. Consequently, the team had better play like the champions we are by playing to instructions within the realm of a team concept. As the team’s leader by default, Mikel Obi must make his presence felt by the Namibians and rally his teammates for the enormity of the match,” he added.

For Okoku, the team has impressed him, but said the team must continue to work hard to win the confidence of the fans.

“The players should get the butterflies in those stomachs out quickly because their fans will be unruly to disturb their rhythms. The players will attempt to use intimidating tactics, and their media will exaggerate their players’ skill level to try to frighten our players, just like Kenya did. The good thing about it all, the game will be played on the field, not on the pages of the newspapers or in the spectators’ stand.

“Coach Stephen Keshi has done a great job of efficiently blending home-based and foreign-based players together to producing expected results. And, by committing to his commitment of giving the home-based players their chance, has created a win-win situation for Nigerian football. The national team players will draw a crowd to the professional league that has been beleaguered with the lack of spectators as they gain international exposures for the betterment of the team. It is my hope for the team to play a solid defense and be focused because a good defense wins games, always, with a good offensive production,” Okoku cautioned.