Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has congratulated Nigerians on the qualification of the Super Eagles for the 2014 World Cup and called for more training by the team to ensure that they are well blended to enable them win the cup.

Speaking to journalists in Warri on the Super Eagles’ 2-0 victory over the Antelopes of Ethiopia, Governor Uduaghan observed that the Super Eagles put up a good play. He observed that Chief Coach Stephen Keshi must have adopted a different approach to the game to ensure that they checked the Ethiopians.

“Football is about strategy, the strategy of the Super Eagles was to win and they won, we should congratulate them,” the governor said, adding: “We must understand that the Ethiopians were very hard players, they had a lot of stamina and Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, must have adopted an approach to win the game.”

“We are excited that we have qualified for the World Cup, this is a great victory coming shortly after the Under-17 team brought the world cup to Nigeria,” the governor said, reiterating: “We are set to conquer the world in football.”

Ahead of the 2014 world cup, Governor Uduaghan called on Stephen Keshi not to relax after the qualification but should ensure that the team is well blended to enable them win the world cup in 2014, stating that efforts should be made to also ensure that the foreign based players are released to enable them train and be well blended before the commencement of the world cup.

According to the governor, strident training was required by the team and it was also, necessary that they play friendly matches to enable them bring the cup to Nigeria.

Also reacting to the victory, Chief Solomon Ogba, the President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria who watched the match with Governor Uduaghan, described the victory as one for Nigerians. “As a Nigerian, I am very happy that we have qualified for the World Cup. During the Under-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates, every black man identified with Nigeria whenever we were playing and we are happy that the Super Eagles have qualified for the World Cup,” he said.

He commended Keshi for adopting an approach that saw the Super Eagles beating the Ethiopians, saying: “Here in Warri, we say all win na win. The Ethiopians were more desperate.”

•Photo shows Victor Moses celebrating after putting Nigeria ahead . . . yesterday in Calabar.

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