No room for mistakes, Keshi warns Eagles

By Ben EFE
Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi has demanded from his players maximum concentration as they host Rwanda in Saturday’s 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers at the U.J Esuene Stadium Calabar.

Last weekend, the Eagles defence ruined what could have passed as a gratifying victory in Blantyre, when they squandered a 1-0 lead in the dying seconds of the World Cup qualifiers against the boastful Flames of Malawi.

Miffed by that blunder, coach Keshi drilled his defenders and has impressed on them to keep their cool and avoid making mistakes such as the one that caused them the three points. This is against the background of an anticipated rush by the Rwandans for goals to enhance their qualification chances. The first leg in Kigali ended in a  goalless draw.

“We made corrections to the mistake we made in Malawi. I expect maximum concentration from the players now,” Keshi stated.

It has been established that the Eagles tend to lose concentration especially then they are on the driver’s seat. It happened during a world cup qualifier against Tunisia in Abuja. The Eagles were 2-0 up but the Tunisia leveled up in quick succession when the Eagles defence went to sleep. Also against Guinea in a Nations Cup qualification match in Abuja, a lapse in defence allowed the Syli Stars to level up and deny Nigeria the ticket to the 2012 Nations Cup.

Goalkeeper, Vincent  Enyeama who took majority of the blame for the missed opportunity in Malawi stated that the team has moved on from that mistake.

“We were supposed to win in Malawi and it didn’t happen, that is now in the past. We must forget that and be ready to beat Rwanda silly.

“That is why I’m begging everyone to leave issues of last week behind and get ready to pound Rwanda.”