Daily Independent (Lagos)
George Akpayen
19 June 2009
interview
Today, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will confront Tunisia's Carthage Eagles for 2010 World Cup qualifier at Rades Stadium in Tunis. One of the players that would likely feature in the game, Olubayo Adefemi, spoke to GEORGE AKPAYEN.
The 23-year-old defender did not hide his excitement of being among the side that defeated France in an international friendly in Saint Etienne recently. He expresses joy for playing against the likes of Franck Ribery, Patrick Vieira, Patrice Evra and Nicolas Anelka, among others in that match. The defender, who moved from Rapid Bucharest to SC Rheindorf Altach of Austria in controversial circumstance like his Nigerian teammates, is looking forward to ensuring that Super Eagles makes a fourth appearance at the Mundial in South Africa next year. Excerpts:
You were one of the players in the Super Eagles' side that defeated France in an international friendly recently. Did you feel any sort of pressure when you realised that you were one of those to face France?
I wasn't under any pressure at all. We know that they were once the world champion, but that didn't bother us because my colleagues and myself knew that it was our opportunity to make claims for shirts.
Are you saying it was a consensus among the players that featured against France to play the way you did?
We didn't have such a meeting (to reach a consensus), but as players we know what is expected of us when we wear the colours of our country. Apart from that, most of us were playing for the Super Eagles for the first time and we had no choice than to prove that we can become part of the team. It was my first real opportunity to play for the Super Eagles and I wanted to establish myself straight away in the team and thank God that we had a wonderful game that night against France.
Did you have any fear facing Franck Ribery, who played on the left flank for France?
I have played against top class players in the past. I have played against Lionel Messi, Ryan Babel and others. So, I didn't have any fear playing against Ribery that day. It was not only Ribery that we had to play against. There were (Patrick) Vieira, Nicolas Anelka, Karim Benzema, Patrice Evra and others. So, it was not a case of playing against only Ribery. Though it was not easy playing against such established and experienced players, in football you cannot afford to over respect an opponent or else you will get punished real hard.
Do you think that France would have been deadlier if Thierry Henry played in that friendly match?
May be and may be not. But names do not play football anymore. Football is played based on current form and a little bit of luck. I would have loved to play against Thierry Henry because he is one of the best players in the world now, but unfortunately he didn't play. All the same, we played against a very strong French national team and I am happy that I gave my best and at the end, we won that game (by 1-0).
You were absent in the qualifier game against Kenya in Abuja. What happened?
When we returned to the country after beating France, I started feeling uncomfortable. I think it was due to the change of environment from Europe to Africa. You know as players, we spend most part of the year in Europe and at times when you return to your country, you could fall sick. I think I got fever immediately I arrived Nigeria. I had to go to hospital for treatment and that was why I could not make the team. I was really disappointed because I was looking forward to that game (against Kenya in Abuja), but I am happy that Super Eagles defeated Kenya by 3-0 and I know that we can qualify for the World Cup if we continue to play that way and score goals.
Many fans of the national team believe that the victory over France might have given Super Eagles a new direction, do you agree with that?
People are entitled to their opinion, but it was good for us to have defeated France because it boosted our confidence for the World Cup qualifiers.
Today, Super Eagles will face the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in a game that is seen as one that could decide Nigeria's chance of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. You must be looking forward to the game.
Yes I am. It is a very important match for the Super Eagles and it is a game we must win, though they (the Tunisians) will be playing at home. If we win this game in Tunis, then we have our destiny in our hands as the World Cup qualifiers continue. But we know that it will not be easy. It will not be a game that we will just stroll and score goals. Remember Tunisia is one of the big sides in Africa.
Playing at the right-back, by the time Chidi Odiah recovers you could likely be playing from the bench. Do you think you can give him a real fight for that position?
I don't see playing at the right-back where Odiah plays as a competition. The most important thing is for us to win matches. Whether I play or not, what matters is for us to win our remaining matches in the World Cup qualifiers. If he (Odiah) plays ahead of me, it is fine because that is the coach's decision and if I start ahead of him, I will be happy.
Some people believed that you would find it difficult to cope in the Eagles since you had not played for sometime at Rapid Bucharest following contractual breach.
Though I didn't play competitive football for sometime, I don't think that has affected me because I have been keeping fit personally. What happened at Rapid Bucharest is unfortunate because they were owing me salaries at that time before FIFA intervened. Now, I am with SC Rheindorf Altach in Austria and I believe things will change soon. But lack of competitive football would in no way affect my level of fitness and form.
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