Kaduna Friendly : Super Eagles Wary of Tricky Burkinabes

Super Eagles will step out Tuesday against Burkina Faso in the Crocodile City of Kaduna, fully aware of the trickery and robust play of the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup runners up.

The players had joked during Monday morning training about the strength of their top marksman, Jonathan Petroipa. “Azubuike, Petroipa will show you pepper tomorrow and I know you have been thinking of him”, Ogenyo Onazi poked a joke at the Eagles tallest defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe.

The defender kept mute and just shook his head but Emmanuel Emenike, who incidentally did not play the final due to a knock rose to his defence. “Petroipa was there at the Nations Cup and we know the result. Na for this field we go see who be oga for African football”, he said. The other players laughed it off.

That is the spirit with which the Nigerian side will approach the grade A international friendly scheduled for the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. As usual fans are expected to jam pack the stadium for the encounter.

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi also emphasised the abilities of their West African neighbors but added that he trusts his players to effectively curtail them in the friendly. Stand in skipper, Vincent Enyeama, spoke in a similar vein as the stage looks set for an entertaining encounter on Tuesday evening.

Two former internationals, Garba Lawal, alias Chindo and Ibrahim Babangida, who was once on the payroll of Spanish giants Barcelona were also in town to lend support to the national team. Babangida was at the team’s early morning training and shared his thoughts with Keshi and his crew, while Chindo came to the team’s African Continental hotel abode to offer his support.