Brazil 2014: Oboabona, Babatunde resume training

The duo of injured Godfrey Oboabona and Micheal Babatunde have returned to training and are ready for tomorrow’s showdown against Argentina in Porto Alegre.

Daily Sunsports gathered from the Super Eagles medics that scan haD revealed that all that Babatunde had was a knock in his thigh, which he had relaxed enough.

“Babatunde’s injury is not a big deal, he is ready for action and he has in fact resumed training ahead of the big clash. The medical report from the medics yesterday put smiles on Keshi’s face,” Ben Alaiya, the team’s spokes man confirmed to Daily Sunsports.

Alaiya was quick to add that Oboabona had equally been cleared to resume training and actually did so when the team arrived Porto Alegre yesterday.

He was, however, quick to add that it is now left for Keshi to decide if oboabona would play or not.

“It is a 50, 50 situation, but the good news is that Oboabona is back on his feet training. There are no injury worries, as we go into the game against Argentina,” Alaiya assured.

Nigeria’s muffler, other souvenirs in high demand again 

 Nigerians who are selling Super Eagles mufflers and other souvenirs here are oce more back in business, thanks to Super Eagles victory over Bosnia.After the game against Iran those who were selling the souvenirs for 100 dollars were ready to sell for half the price without getting buyers.

But all that changed now as there was a rush for anything Nigerian ahead of the clash against Argentina.

A Nigerian, who was hawking T shirts and other souvenirs with Super Eagles inscription disclosed to Daily Sunsports that he was back in business, even as he prayed for the Eagles to keep doing well in the competition.

“I brought these stuffs from Nigeria to make something out of the World Cup and everything was fine until the day we played Iran, After that match, I just couldn’t sell, but I am now back in business with the victory over Bosnia,” he disclosed.

He said he would be in Porto Alegro early on match day to do business.

Argentina beatable –Ladipo

President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) Dr. Rauf Ladipo is confident Argentina will fall when they face Nigeria tomorrow in Porto Alegre.

Ladipo whose men have been crisscrossing Brazil to support the Eagles said from what he had seen, the Argies play they are beatable.

“There is nothing special about Argentina, my prayers is that our boys should not over respect them. They are beatable,” Ladipo said.

He disclosed that his group would hit Porto Alegre in their hundreds despite spending three days to and fro Cuiaba for the match against Bosnia.

“Yes we are facing challenges here going to the match venues, but we won’t relent. We are ready to make sacrifices and our prayer is for the team to continue to do well.

After beating Bosnia travelling over 1,500 km from Cuiaba back to Sao Paolo was like making a one kilometre trip because all of us were happy,” Ladipo said.

He said his men would devise other ways of making their impact felt in the stadium, having been stripped of their drums and trumpets by security men here in Brazil.

Bosnia win’ll spur Eagles – TAN

 Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) has described the Super Eagles’ 1-0 defeat of Bosnia & Herzegovina on Sunday, at the ongoing World Cup in Brazil, as a good omen for country.Former International, Waidi Akanni, who, alongside former Super Eagles’ coach, Samson Siasia, led the TAN’s team to Brazil, stated that the team had shown that it has what it takes to do the country proud at the World Cup.

He noted that the victory was good for the team after it struggled to a 0-0 draw against Iran in the first game.

“The victory over Bosnia that broke a 16-year World Cup winless jinx is heartwarming.

“The players played as a team against Bosnia; defending and attacking in numbers. All the players applied themselves well to Coach Stephen Keshi’s tactics and that was what gave Nigeria victory” Akanni observed.

He stated that the job was not done yet and called on Nigerians to continue to support the team. He also called on the players to give their best in tomorrow’s game against Argentina.

“I am sure that the spirited display against Bosnia will spur the Eagles against Argentina tomorrow. All the players need is to stay focus and take the goal scoring chances they have.”

He also commended TAN’s coordinator, Orji Okoronkwo for making the trip to Brazil possible for the winners of the ‘Fly Me to Brazil’ promo and noted that they are savouring the World Cup experience.

Keshi sticks to Yobo

There are indications that coach Stephen Keshi would hand Joseph Yobo starting shirt again in the game against Argentina in spite of the recovery progress being made by Godfrey Oboabona.
Although Keshi was still keeping his line up close to his chest, a member of the Eagles technical crew revealed to Daily Sunsports exclusively that the Big Boss was impressed with the way Yobo played in the game against Bosnia and would not want to put him on the bench, especially when Oboabona may not be 100 percent fit.
“Keshi was impressed with the yeoman’s job Yobo did against Bosnia and we may start him against Argentina. The Big boss commended Yobo after the Bosnia game. Yobo did a lot of talking and organized the defence well. We want him to do the same thing against Argentina. He is likely to start and pair Kenneth Omeruo, as they did in our last game,” he said.
He stressed that Keshi was paying special attention to the defence line ahead of the big game as the emphasize would be on not conceding.
“If we are organized in the rear and don’t concede then everything will go well. We are mapping out fresh strategies for the game which we won’t want to let out.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s captain, Joseph Yobo, said he prefers victory in tomorrow’s match to his celebrated milestone 100thinternational appearance should he feature in the match against old foe, Argentina.
“It’s would be good news if I reach that milestone, but what is uppermost in my mind is for the team to win and for us to advance to the next stage. The rest would be a bonus” he said on Monday.
50, 000 Argentines mobilise  against Eagles

Daily Sunsports gathered that Port Alegre, the Brazilian city that will play host to the Nigeria, Argentina clash had been literally taken over by Argentina fans, who are just a stone throw from the border of southern Brazil and Argentina.

It was gathered that the proximity had already seen more than half the number crossing over to cheer the team to victory against Nigeria’s Super Eagles as many of them are loyal fans of Lionel Messi.

According to investigations by this reporter, thousands had made the crossing into Brazil, many sleeping in buses and vans ahead of Wednesday’s game. Local media said more than 50,000 were expected, though less than half will have tickets, in what could be a test for security authorities.

As predicted in the run-up to the tournament, Messi had been the key to success for Argentina, which had already qualified for the second round. Currently top of Group F after two scrappy wins, it will stay there if it gets at least a point against Nigeria.

A draw would also suit the Nigerians, who would seal second place in the group and their first appearance in the knockout stages since 1998. They could also lose and still progress if Iran fails to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in a match being played at the same time.

Argentina will be looking for a better team performance in front of its fans, who have had little to cheer about so far — apart from Messi. The 26-year-old Barcelona star scored a second-half goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina in an opening 2-1 victory, and popped up in added time to curl in a left-foot shot from outside the penalty area for the only goal of the game against Iran.

Nigeria arrived in Brazil as the reigning African champions but underwhelmed at last year’s Confederation Cup, where it lost to Uruguay and Spain after an easy win over Tahiti. The team wasn’t tested much in qualification for the World Cup.

With the likes of Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Liverpool’s Victor Moses in the squad, Nigeria is where most people expected it to be in Group F, in second place behind Argentina. After a 0-0 draw with Iran, Nigeria played better in a 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, courtesy of a first-half goal by Stoke City striker, Peter Odemwingie.

The group remains tight, and one set of results on Wednesday would see second place decided by the drawing of lots by the FIFA organizing committee. If Nigeria loses 1-0 and Iran wins 1-0, both teams would have the same goal difference and number of goals scored, and could not be separated by their head-to-head result.