8 November 2009
Head Coach John Obuh has not refrained from telling his wards that they must keep level heads as they go up against Korea Republic in the World Cup quarter-finals today.
Korea Republic hosted the last edition of the tournament that the Golden Eaglets won and it will be a tough fight inside the U.J. Esuene Stadium tonight between them and the Cup holders.
Easy-going Coach Obuh insists that despite hammering New Zealand 5-0 in the Round of 16 and being projected as tournament favourites all over again, the defending champions must countenance a big fight with the Far East Asians.
"We cannot afford to be complacent. The Koreans showed what it means to fight for the entire period of a match when they equalised against Mexico in added time and went on to win on penalties. That is what I have been telling my boys: No match is won until the referee's final whistle. We must always play for 90 minutes".
The Eaglets arrived in Calabar on Friday and have been training hard for a match that could be their toughest since the beginning of the competition. Obuh added: "The Koreans are very fast, skilful, aware and strong. We have to watch it, play our game and take our chances without being too elaborate".
The winner will play the winner of the Spain/Uruguay match in Thursday's second semi-final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
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