Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama in action.
Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
Etta Egbe, a former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper says he is optimistic the Super Eagles can progress beyond the group stages at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.The competition runs from June 12 to July 13.
Egbe, currently National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Football Coaches Association, told our correspondent in Calabar on Wednesday that the selection process was the best so far.
“I know with the experience of the past the Board of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), along with the team’s coach, Stephen Keshi, they have come up with the best players to give Nigeria a good representation at the event.
“I am hopeful that the crop of players selected will give in their best to make the country proud and ensure that we comfortably scale through the group stages’’.
Egbe, who played alongside the likes of Stephen Keshi, Humphrey Edobor, Franklin Howard and Henry Nwosu, under Adegboye Onigbinde urged all relevant bodies to support the team.
He said: “I want to sincerely thank the NFA for the job they have done so far to give the team the support required to excel.
“It is true that Nigeria is blessed with quality players, which has makes it difficult to pick the best’’.
In a separate interview, Patrick Ugbe, the Cross River Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development also expressed confidence at the Eagles’ prospects in Brazil.
He called for support for the national team, urging the players to raise their acts in order to perform well at the Mundial.
“I think we will do well at the competition. It is also a matter for those that made it to realise the enormity of the tasks ahead.
“We expect hem as champions of Africa, to excel at the Mundial. They, as players, must listen to their coaches, knowing full well they are representing the most populous African Nation.
“They will no doubt be carrying the hopes of the entire continent to the Mundial. I wish them the best of luck. I wish they become the first African Nation to win the World Cup.
“For the Super Eagles and for me as a person I am optimistic that the team is capable of winning the world Cup in Brazil’’.
“There must be that robust relationship between the federation and the Keshi-led team.
“It is not left to us to decide which player goes to the World Cup. The person that should decide is the coaching crew, saddled with the responsibility of molding the team,” Ugbe said.
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