In Picture: Eagles lift Cataluyna trophy in Spain

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports, State News Saturday, January 5th, 2013

President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will today return to the country with the Cataluyna trophy the Super Eagles won on Wednesday night in Barcelona following a 1-1 draw with Catalonia X1 in a friendly game.

Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who watched the game live in the company of former technical committee chairman of the federation, Barrister Chris Green said that winning a trophy in far away Barcelona in only the second day of the year was a sign of good things to come in 2013.

He urged the players not to relent in their quest for the Afcon title in South Africa, stating that President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that all necessary support will be provided for an excellent outing for the team.

“The president even watched the game against Catalonia selected and he was very proud of you. “We on the part of the federation, will ensure that adequate provision is made for you to conquer in South Africa.”

Head coach, Stephen Keshi said he was happy at the display of the national team but was not totally done yet with building a strong team.

“In the next two weeks we should have a stronger and more reliable team to defend our colours come SA 2013,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dutch legend and coach, Catalonia X1, Johan Cryuff, is impressed with Nigeria’s display against his side on Wednesday in an international friendly at Barcelona.

Also, former Indomitable Lions of Cameroon goalkeeper and skipper, Thomas Nkono, says the rebirth of African football has started with what he saw the Eagles play against Catalonia selected on Wednesday in Barcelona.

Cryuff, who was handling the Catalonian Selected side for the last time, said he told his players that the Nigerian side was a very strong, physical and tactical side and he was not disappointed with what he saw against his side.

“It was a good game but the Nigerians are preparing for a major tournament and it showed that they are preparing well and will go very far in the tournament,” he said.

Nkono on his part, came to the Eagles dressing room to personally congratulate Keshi for raising such a team from Africa and wished the team well at the South African Afcon championship.

The former Espanyol FC first choice in goal, hugged, back-slapped and said he was fascinated by the display of the Africans in the exhibition game in the Catalan City.

Meanwhile, NIGERIA’S group opponents in the 2013 Africa Cup Of Nations tourney, Burkina Faso and Zambia sent spies to monitor the Nigerian versus Catalonia selected game in Barcelona on Wednesday.

According to Assistant Coach Gydounou Valere, the new faces in the Nigerian team was a surprise to many.

“Some of the coaches and journalists who came to spy the team had to approach me, asking where the big names that we are taking to the Nations Cup were. I told them that they are seeing them right there on the pitch,” he said.

The former assistant coach of Togo and Mali, says Nigeria is on the way to causing many surprises at the Afcon tournament and urged for total backing from all and sundry.

Nigeria will next take on Cape Verde Island next week in another warm up game in Portugal.

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