MEMBERS of the Super Eagles have been given a heroes' welcome in Swaziland by the migrant Nigerian community living as they touched down yesterday ahead of today World Cup qualifier against the Swazi national team the Sihlangi.
In what is the Eagles' first game on the road to Moscow 2018, a Nigerian Football federation (NFF) delegation led by the first vice-president Seyi Akinwunmi, arrived at the Matsapha International Airport, Manzini at 4pm local time yesterday. Onboard the chartered Arik Air flight were head coach Sunday Oliseh, 24 players, members of the technical and backroom staff and NFF staff.
Mr Akinwunmi said: “We really appreciate this show of love from fellow Nigerians, who have left their businesses in various areas of Swaziland to come and welcome the national team of Nigeria.”
After the reception, Oliseh supervised a 45-minute training session at the Somhlolo National Stadium and spoke about the team's desire to win. He added that his team is desperate to win tonight's match, which kicks off at 6pm Nigerian time.
Oliseh said: “Our objective is clear as we are here to play well and win well. The NFF are doing their part well by ensuring comfortable travelling and accommodation arrangements, so now, we will go to the field and give our very best for our country.
“I have confidence in this group. The players still need time and matches to bond together very well but I love the hunger to achieve that I see in these boys.”
Swaziland shocked Guinea 2-1 in an African Nations Cup qualifier in June and they will be gunning for another famous win against a team coach Harries Bulunga calls the Nigerian giants when both sides clash tonight. Before this famous win, the Kingdom of Swaziland had not won on the road in 20 other attempts in the African Nations Cup since 1986.
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Team captain, Tony Tsabedze, said: “We are the underdogs against Nigeria as we are just a small country trying to establish ourselves in football. However, we’re prepared as we have worked very hard and are now looking forward to the game.
“We don’t have stars, we believe in team work, we are a very united team, who have been together for a long time and we fight for each other and fight for the nation. We fight on the pitch to have a level playing ground, so, it will be the quality of Nigeria against the hard work we will all put in."
Coach Bulunga has had a week to train his squad of 23 players from the country’s local league and they have several local conditions working in their favour. These include the heat, a partisan home crowd and the match will be played on an artificial pitch, which Nigeria’s Europe-based players could well struggle on.
Watford Striker Odion Ighalo said: “There are no small countries in football and so I will prepare to play against Swaziland as I would against Arsenal.” Swaziland beat Djibouti 8-1 on aggregate in the first round of the qualifiers to set up the clash against Nigeria.
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