Siasia alarmed at Antananarivo pitch *Mikel confirms Monday arrival
Headlines, Soccer, Sports Saturday, August 27th, 2011
NIGERIA’s head coach, Samson Siasia has expressed shock at the conditions of the stadium in Antananarivo Mahamasina Stadium, Antananarivo when the Super Eagles face Madagascar in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The game will hold on September 4, but a preliminary inspection of the pitch by an advanced party found the turf in woeful condition.
-Tribune
Parts of the grass are not tended, with pockets in places of the pitch looking uneven and dangerously like pot-holes.
But Siasia said his men will adapt to the condition ahead of the game.
“This is a shocking sight. But we have no option but to play on this. At least we have seen it ahead of time so we know what we are going to be up against.
“We need to win this game, and this is the first thing the boys are going to see when they arrive at the camp.
“The Super Eagles are due to travel to Madagascar on Tuesday, giving them a full four days to familiarise themselves with the conditions, although they are only allowed to train on the match day pitch 24 hours to the game,” Siasia said.
Meanwhile,CHELSEA midfielder, Mikel John Obi, will join the Super Eagles squad on Monday ahead of a must-win Nations Cup qualifier in Madagascar, according to officials.
Nigeria battles Madagascar in Antananarivo on September 4 and two days later slug it out with Argentina in a high-profile friendly.
Officials disclosed to MTNFootball.com that Obi has informed them he would join up with the squad at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja Monday.
Also expected on Monday is VVV Venlo striker Ahmed Musa.
Ashdod of Israel defender Efe Ambrose told MTNFootball.com yesterday that he would join the Eagles on Tuesday, which the Eagles coach Samson Siasia has set as deadline for all the invited players for the Madagascar and Argentina matches.
“I have already contacted our coach (Samson Siasia) to intimate him of my arrival date. I cannot join the team earlier than Tuesday because we have a league match which my club have insisted I play,” hewp_posts
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