Home Super Eagles’ Skipper, Chigozie Agbim has declared that they are battle ready and have the capacity to withstand whatever the Ivoriens throw at during return leg match this weekend.
Agbim who disclosed this to Pilot Sports in Abuja, stated that they have advised themselves to prepare for the worst case scenario during the second leg of the Championship of Africa Nations football, (CHAN) qualifiers in Abidjan.
“The message to my fellow players is for them to know that we are going there to fight because we know that they are not going to come easy, they are going to come at us as if it is a war. All the players would have it at the back of their mind that it is like a war we are fighting and we must stand on our feet throughout the 90/95 minutes of the match,” he said
Reacting to the fact that should the team qualify for the Championship, Nigeria may be presenting a depleted team as most of the current players may have secured foreign clubs, Agbim said:
“Yes, most of the players are hoping to move abroad and it should not be something that should worry us because there are still very good players that could be invited to take their place. Nigeria has abundant talents and it’s like a blessing God gave to us.”
The Enugu Rangers shot stopper refused to state if he will be available for the Championship proper, declaring that he will rather keep that information to himself.
“I cannot say if I will be around for CHAN but I am just keeping my fingers crossed” he said.
On the recent order by the Sports Minister that clubs owing their players should pay up or face sanctions, the home-based Super Eagles goal keeper applauded the decision.
“Many players in the local league are happy about it because it has been a standing problem in the Nigeria league. If they carry out the instruction it will be so nice as it will improve professionalism”
He argued that the failure of the clubs to regularly pay their players has contributing to the poor standard of the league dwindling.
“It’s difficult to give your best when you are not been taken good care of. But we are Nigeria and we know how to adapt but we pray that as the minister has said it, we shall begin to see changes,” he concluded