Tony Ubani
9 September 2007
Lagos — Two goals in each half of the Nations Cup qualifier on the water-logged pitch of the Warri City stadium were all the unhappy Super Eagles needed yesterday to secure maximum points and end their campaign on 15 points.
Osaze Odemwingie, who was voted the Most Valuable Player of the match on the Nigeria side flipped a pass to Marseille defender, Taye Taiwo who ran deep into the defence of the visitors before crossing from the left for on-rushing Ayo Makinwa to slam home for the opener close to the end of the first stanza.
The southern Africans did not give in to their much more superior opponents loaded to the hilt with Europe-based professionals easily and contested for every ball but in one such moves, Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu was hacked down for a penalty which Mikel Obi, making a come back to the team after being pardoned, however failed to convert.
The flooded pitch did not allow for free flowing football and it actually denied Uche Ikechukwu a goal before he eventually got the second for the Eagles who expressed their grievances over the inability of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to pay them their allowance and match bonus.
Kanu who spoke on behalf of his colleagues said it was unkind of the NFA not to pay the players what was due to them but said they had to play the match as a mark of patriotism and because Nigerians may misconstrue their agitation if they failed to play.
The NFA which most of its top officials are all swarmed around the Golden Eaglets in far away Korea, it was gathered claimed it had no money to pay the players, even as team handler Berti Vogts lambasted the association for throwing spanners into his plan for the team's preparation for the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana.
An angry Vogts said that the NFA cancelled the friendly match against Togo scheduled for Tuesday without informing him, stressing that it does no good for his preparation. He however expressed satisfaction over his players performance even though the rain did not allow them express themselves well on the pitch.
Lesotho coach, Mogheo Mohabi said they had to come for the match to avoid sanctions from CAF as their FA did not prepare the team for the assignment claiming that he had to bring along some junior players to make up the team.
He advised the Eagles handlers to ensure the team play with more fire power in Ghana next year if they hope to go far in the competition.
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