Niger braced for Eagles fall in Niamey

The Super Eagles may be shocked when they face Menas of Niger in a friendly match today in Niamey as the home side looks beyond the friendly.

While Coach Stephen Keshi is content to use the home based players he has been working with for the game, Niger are presenting a full team to tackle the Nigerian team.

Both countries are using the match to prepare for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifying matches coming up next month but an official of Federation Niger Du Football Ahmad Dauda said a move up the FIFA ranking was motivation behind their desire to beat Nigeria. Niger are in 115th position on the table, a step above Liberia, who meet Nigeria next month in a Nations Cup qualifier.

Dauda said, “Niger and Nigeria are brothers but we are putting that aside. Nigeria must fall in the match so that we can move above our present position in the FIFA ranking. We are taking the match seriously because it is recognised by FIFA and it gives us an opportunity to win attention because we are playing a big team.”

Niger have already invited eight of their professional players for the match but as part of the antics to beat the Eagles, they have kept their team list away from Nigeria.

Among the players in the Menas camp already are Etoile Du Sahel’s Nouse Naazou, Afrique Du Sudan’s Dauoda Kasali, Club Africaine’s Kailou Daouda and Koffi Du Kowo of Souse FC of Tunisia. The biggest star in the team is Daloued Wonkoge of Dutch Eridivise side, Feyenoord.

Niger will play without their new coach Ivorien Francoise Zahoui, who will watch from the stands.

In the team list released by Keshi for the match, team captain Chiegozie Agbim will be in goal with cover from Uzochukwu Ugonna, Juwon Oshaniwa, Papa Idris and Azubuike Egwueke.