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Nigeria/Côte d'Ivoire: Grudge Moments Wane
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Vanguard (Lagos)
24 January 2008
Posted to the web 24 January 2008
Tuoyo Ukusanren
Lagos
The grudges moments are over. The moment of truth has set in. And the Super Eagles have come to terms with their shock defeat in the hands of Didier Drogba-led Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire.
The quietude in their Raybow International Hotel in Takoradi has given way to a surge of enthusiasm and camaraderie among the players.
The long faces they wore after the defeat have brightened and everybody has embraced optimism that Mali and Benin have to pay and be used as sacrificial lambs to appease the teeming Nigerian fans who have been reduced to sacks that have been deflated.
Danny Shittu, the most outstanding Nigerian player against Cote d'Ivoire confirmed yesterday that he had overcome the shock and now looks forward to roaring against Mali on Friday. "These things happen in football. You play well and something goes wrong and you are left with no other alternative.
I was personally disappointed but we must put that behind us to march ahead. Almost everybody in camp have come to realize that", the Watford defender who even joined attack during the match said. He also noted that they were in the right frame of mind to bring back smiles to all Nigerians. "The hope is that we still have two matches and we can win them and continue".
German handler, Berti Vogts who has been carrying the cross for what many thought were wrong decisions is upbeat of qualification. "We lost the first match and many teams lost theirs. It is not the end. We are going to turn things around and move ahead in the competition", he promised. The German has been accused of leaving such ferocious players like Obinna Nsofor, Ikechukwu Uche, Etuhu and others on the bench while fielding Makinwa who was a mere shadow of himself on the pitch.
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First Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, NFA, Amanze Uchegbulam who has refused to eat after the defeat is back on the track and said that the team would qualify. "It's shocking but the players have shown commitment and they will make amends", Uchegbulam said.
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