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Keshi names squad for Battle of Durban •Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana talk tough

News Express |14th Aug 2013 | 5,542
Keshi names squad for Battle of Durban •Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana talk tough

Super Eagles gaffer Stephen Keshi has unveiled his team list for tonight’s Nelson Mandela Challenge clash against hosts Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It is as follows:

1. Austin Ejide (Capt) 2. Godfrey Oboabona 3. Elderson Echejile 4. John Ogu 5. Ambrose Efe 6. Azubuike Egwueke 9. Shola Ameobi 12. Nnamdi Oduamadi 17. Ogenyi Onazi 18. Obinna Nsofor 19. Sunday Mba. RESERVES: 7. Ahmed Musa 8. Brown Ideye 11. Victor Moses 14. Uche Nwafor 15. Gege Soriola 16. Chigozie Agbim 20. James Okwuosa 13. Fegor Ogude.

“The Super Eagles will be playing in an all-white outfit and Bafana Bafana their gold tops and green shorts. That is why we are not in our traditional all green outfit,” says team Media Officer Ben Alaiya.

Meanwhile, both sides have been talking tough ahead of the match billed to kick off by 8:15 pm local time, which is 7.15pm Nigerian time.

Nigeria, according to Elderson Echiejile, will go all out to defend their pride as African champions. Bafana’s Dean Furman is just as confident.

“We are expecting a big fight,” said Echiejile. “We know that we are playing against Bafana Bafana, a very good team and we are prepared. We are aware that we are the team to beat, we are the champions of Africa and this game means a lot to us.”

Keshi has said he hopes to win. “We aim to win every game we go into and this one would not be different,” he said.

Keshi hopes to use this game to prepare for the decisive 2014 World Cup qualifier against Malawi next month. “We hope to use this match to know the best way to tackle our most important game next month,” he disclosed.

On his part, Bafana Bafana midfielder Dean Furman dismissed talks about this game being the ‘2013 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final that never was’.

Gordon Igesund’s men were eliminated on penalties by Mali back in February to deny them a meeting with the Super Eagles, but the Doncaster Rovers midfielder says this is a different type of encounter.

“It’s the first time I’ve been back here (Moses Mabhida) since the Mali game; it does bring back a few memories, some good and others not so good but we can’t say what would’ve happened,” said Furman.

“It’s gone now and we just have to look forward to the next game.

“The plan is to go out there and be positive. We know they are the African champions and they had a good tournament a few months ago but we’re going to be competitive.

“We’ll be playing on home soil and it’s a very important match for the country; we want to go out there and win it.”

•Photo: Come-backing Obinna Nsofor will spearhead the Eagles attack.

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