Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh will on Saturday, 5 September 2015 open his account in a Day Two Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 qualifier against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.
In the past, this would have been a routine win or at worst scenario, a drawn game for Nigeria even before the match is played since the Taifa Stars have not recorded a win against the three-time African Champions in six previous encounters.
In the past, this would have been a routine win or at worst scenario, a drawn game for Nigeria even before the match is played since the Taifa Stars have not recorded a win against the three-time African Champions in six previous encounters.
The Super Eagles have claimed four victories including a 2-0 win against the Taifa Stars in Dar es Salam over three decades ago, with the other four previous meetings ending in stalemates.
Despite the seemingly gap between the two teams, Oliseh reckons a huge task in his debut gamer at the helm of the Eagles.
“We have watched a couple of their tapes and we know that they have changed their coach, just like we changed ours and we are on the same level,” stated the former Nigeria captain.
“We know they are a very aggressive team and we know that at that level, we might be finding it difficult because we don’t know what the philosophy of the new coach is. They are playing at home, and are they going to come out fully on us or are they going to sit back and watch us play? That is what we don’t know?” he queried.
Yet, Oliseh must diagnose an antidote to whatever the strategy put in place by Taifa Stars’ new trainer, Charles Boniface Mkwasa who replaced Dutchman Mart Nooij. While Mkwasa is hoping to get Tanzania's campaign back on track with after a 3-0 loss to Egypt in the Group G opener, Oliseh is expected to maintain the West African country’s perfect start to the campaign following a 2-0 win over Chad last June.
There have been pockets of doubts on the choice of the former midfielder for one of the hottest seats in African football against the backdrop that he has no coaching experience at international level. But he has left no one in doubt with his devotion and enthusiasm for the job, insisting that the Super Eagles would function as a team than a team that relies on individual brilliance.
“It is very difficult for me think of any philosophy now but what I can say is that I’m building a team that is player-oriented,” noted the former Juventus midfielder.
“We want to build a team where every player would be there for each other.”
Nigeria will be without talismanic goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama who pulled out of the match due to the demise of his mother, but Oliseh is upbeat that the rest would get the job done.
Meanwhile, burly forward Emmanuel Emenike makes a return to the team and he will be hoping to break his goal duck at international level. The striker has yet to find the back of the net since scoring a brace against Ethiopia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup playoff in Addis Ababa two years ago.
“I look forward to scoring against Tanzania,” said Emenike who recently moved from Turkish club, Fenerbahce to Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates.
”I’m very determined to score again for Nigeria; I’m not happy with the long drought. The match in Dar es Salaam is a must-win for us. I’m happy with our coach (Sunday Oliseh) and the assistants, and the approach to training sessions. Their approach brings out the best from the players,” he noted.
Despite the seemingly gap between the two teams, Oliseh reckons a huge task in his debut gamer at the helm of the Eagles.
“We have watched a couple of their tapes and we know that they have changed their coach, just like we changed ours and we are on the same level,” stated the former Nigeria captain.
“We know they are a very aggressive team and we know that at that level, we might be finding it difficult because we don’t know what the philosophy of the new coach is. They are playing at home, and are they going to come out fully on us or are they going to sit back and watch us play? That is what we don’t know?” he queried.
Yet, Oliseh must diagnose an antidote to whatever the strategy put in place by Taifa Stars’ new trainer, Charles Boniface Mkwasa who replaced Dutchman Mart Nooij. While Mkwasa is hoping to get Tanzania's campaign back on track with after a 3-0 loss to Egypt in the Group G opener, Oliseh is expected to maintain the West African country’s perfect start to the campaign following a 2-0 win over Chad last June.
There have been pockets of doubts on the choice of the former midfielder for one of the hottest seats in African football against the backdrop that he has no coaching experience at international level. But he has left no one in doubt with his devotion and enthusiasm for the job, insisting that the Super Eagles would function as a team than a team that relies on individual brilliance.
“It is very difficult for me think of any philosophy now but what I can say is that I’m building a team that is player-oriented,” noted the former Juventus midfielder.
“We want to build a team where every player would be there for each other.”
Nigeria will be without talismanic goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama who pulled out of the match due to the demise of his mother, but Oliseh is upbeat that the rest would get the job done.
Meanwhile, burly forward Emmanuel Emenike makes a return to the team and he will be hoping to break his goal duck at international level. The striker has yet to find the back of the net since scoring a brace against Ethiopia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup playoff in Addis Ababa two years ago.
“I look forward to scoring against Tanzania,” said Emenike who recently moved from Turkish club, Fenerbahce to Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates.
”I’m very determined to score again for Nigeria; I’m not happy with the long drought. The match in Dar es Salaam is a must-win for us. I’m happy with our coach (Sunday Oliseh) and the assistants, and the approach to training sessions. Their approach brings out the best from the players,” he noted.
By: Cafonline.com
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