Lagos — Against the backdrop of public outcry over the quality of play of the Super Eagles, Victor Nosa Ikpeba has said Nigeria should not be written off before the war (of the World Cup in South Africa next summer) had begun.

Ikpeba, a member of the Nigeria team to the USA '94 World Cup Finals and the France '98 said instead of writing off the Super Eagles as a result of how they had laboured so hard to get the ticket (out of the clutches of Tunisia on the last day of qualifier), the players and coaches should be given some credit and the benefit of doubts. "They have done well qualifying for the Finals. I think we should forget the past and encourage these boys by facing the reality of the moment," observed the former Monaco of France ace.

He insisted that if the Super Eagles can beat France 1-0 in a friendly game, there was the possibility of the team pulling some stunning results in South Africa. "If they can do well against France in a friendly then with proper preparations between now and June, the Eagles can pull off some surprises."

Ikpeba also threw his weight behind Shaibu Amodu to continue to be in-charge of the Super Eagles. He said it would be very unfair to ask the Edo-born handler to leave the job now, after doing the dirty jobs of getting the ticket.

He however admits that Coach Amodu was not firm in his handling of the players. "If we must get a technical adviser, such a person should be in the mould of Clemens Westerhof who does not brook nonsense from players.

He should be someone whose presence is enough to instill fears in the minds of players in order to curb their excesses. Amodu does not want to hurt anybody but if you must get the job done, you got to step on toes."

Ikpeba wants Nigerians to put memories of the USA '94 behind to give the present generation a chance. "If we keep thinking of the beautiful football we played in our era, you guys are not going to get anywhere with this generation. Don't forget that every generation has it's own good attributes.

Let's begin to focus on the good side of this present squad as we prepare for South Africa 2010."

One of the main stays of the USA '94 team, Peter Rufai, had also recently voiced the same sentiment as above on the attempts of Nigerians to always draw comparison between the current team and the 1994 one.