Leadership (Abuja)
Ishaku Kigbu
16 August 2008
The Nigeria camp has united to beat away an odious whirlwind of crisis and have bonded splendidly together again ahead of today's Olympics quarter –final clash with Cote d'Ivoire.
There were real fears of a breakdown of togetherness in the Dream Team's camp following Coach Samson Siasia's public upbraiding of the squad for their poor show in the last minute against USA, which did not go down well with the 'senior' players.
Some players were said to have grumbled aloud and wondered whether they were not the butt of Siasia's blistering diatribe.
The team's only over age player, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, as well as Apam Onyekachi, Victor Anichebe and Obinna Nsofor (who have all played for the Super Eagles) did not like the turn of conversation and tried to get Siasia to back down and face coaching.
"It was true that there should be no special treatment for anyone, as this is a team camp, but there was really no need talking too loud about it. The players are also human beings", Osaze said.
Things became somewhat hot and Odemwingie, born of a Russian mother and Nigerian father, contemplated leaving the camp.
However, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi intervened the moment he got wind of the rumpus, and moved down to the city of Qinhuangdao 24 hours earlier than he had planned. Technical Committee Chairman, Taiwo Ogunjobi; General Secretary, Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Assistant General Secretary (technical), James Peters, stormed the coastal town yesterday.
"We have met and resolved all differences. Everyone has put the misunderstanding behind them and they're really looking forward to Saturday's match", stated Ojo-Oba, after a round of meetings at the team's Holiday Inn.
Assistant Coach Henry Nwosu, who captained the Nigeria senior team for several years, said: "We thank God that the wind of crisis has evaporated. Everyone said his mind and we're all united again and ready for battle. Everything is working well for us ahead of the game".
"Everything is working well", is the tacit acceptance by German Bundesliga Club, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim that striker Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi will conclude the Olympics assignment with Nigeria before returning to Europe.
"I have spoken to some officials and they have seen reason and there is really no longer any pressure. I hope to be here till the end", said Obasi on Friday.
He added: "That the Club was apprehensive that as I was not playing enough and wanted me back. But after I played the full game against the USA and they realised that Nigeria was serious in holding me back, they backed down."
Obasi has combined brilliantly well with Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe, Solomon Okoronkwo and Peter Odemwingie to give life and vibrancy to the Nigerian attack in this tournament.
Also, defenders Apam Onyekachi and Olubayo Adefemi are again available for selection after being rendered unplayable in the game against the United States of America as a result of card offence.
Nigeria go up against Cote d'Ivoire in an all –Africa quarter –final clash at the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Centre on Saturday night. The match starts at 9pm local time (2pm Nigeria time).
The sizeable Nigeria community in the whole of China as well as staff of the Nigeria Embassy in Beijing and their families, and visiting Nigerians are all heading to Qinhuangdao by all available means – air, rail and road.
After the full team trained hard on Friday, Siasia said: "We have to go in there and play a hard game. Everyone here wants the Olympic gold, nothing else. We want Nigerians to pray for us".
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