Monday 5 September 2011

The Nigerian Super Eagles to take on Argentina On Tuesday September 6 @ 2pm

Super Eagles of Nigeria
La Albiceleste of Argentina
Nigeria Vs Agentina On SuperSport 7 @ 2pm
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be taking on Argentina in a friendly match on Tuesday 6th March in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This match comes up exactly two days after the Super Eagles play Madagascar in an AFCON 2012 Qualifier in Antananarivo and four days after Argentina play Venezuela in a friendly match in Kolkata, India.

The last time the two sides met was in June 2011 in a friendly match played in Abuja and then the Super Eagles trounced the Argentines 4-1. That result coupled with the loss to Poland a week later and the disgraceful performance of the team in the COPA America resulted in the sacking of Sergio Batista and the appointment of Alejandro Sabella as coach.

Alejandro Sabella wanting to start off on a good note has named a 23-man crack squad to be captained by Lionel Messi for this match. The full team is made up of: Goalkeepers - Mariano Andújar (Catania/Italy), Sergio Romero (Sampdoria/Italy), Esteban Andrada (Lanus/Argentina)
Defenders - Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/England), Nicolás Burdisso (Roma/Italy), Nicolás Pareja (Spartak Moscow/Russia), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow/Russia), Martín Demichelis (Malaga/Spain), Federico Fernández (Napoli/Italy), Nicolás Otamendi (Porto/Portugal)
Midfielders - Ángel di María (Real Madrid/Spain), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona/Spain), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Éver Banega (Valencia/Spain), Ricardo Álvarez (Internazionale/Argentina), Lucho González (Marseille/France), Jonás Gutiérrez ( Newcastle United/England), Fabián Rinaudo (Sporting Lisbon/Portugal), José Ernesto Sosa (Metalist Kharkiv/Ukraine)
Forwards - Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid/Spain), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Spain- captain), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City/England) & Eduardo Salvio (Athletico Madrid/Spain)

Gaffer of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia has been forced to leave out some key players like Osaze Odemwingie, Taiye Taiwo & Ekhigo Ehiosun cos of injury and match rustiness. Kalu Uche has also been excused to allow him settle at his new club. Those that will prosecute the match are :  Goalkeepers - Vincent Enyeama , Dele Aiyenugba , Chigozie Agbim
Defenders - Chibuzor Okonkwo, Elderson Echiejile, Joseph Yobo, Yusuf Ayila, Efe Ambrose, Dele Adeleye, Gege Soriola
Midfielders - Joel Obi, John Mikel Obi, Fengor Ogude, Emmanuel Ekpo, Isaac Promise, Nosa Igiebor, Solomon Okoronkwo, Ahmed Musa 
Forwards- Obinna Nsofor, Victor Anichebe, Ike Uche, Emmanuel Emenike, Peter Utaka, Chinedu Obasi, Brown Ideye

Despite their recent run of poor results, the La Albiceleste will still be considered as favourites to win cos of the sheer ability and class of the individual players in the team. Also, Argentinina occupies the 9th position on the FIFA ranking index while the Super Eagles are ranked 38th. Added to this is the partisan support guaranteed the team as a result of the ''god-like'' status of Lionel Messi in Bangladesh and the current wave of ''messimania'' sweeping Bangladesh. Still the Nigerian side is not one to be sniffed at, and they boast amongst their ranks experienced and quality players as Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, John Mikel Obi, Joel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye and Chinedu Obasi.

Although Samson Siasia has said this match is not the priority and a ''must win'' for his team, you can be sure he'd still want to win and prove to those who were unappreciative of his side's 4-1 victory in June that he can get good results against the best of teams.

So what will be the outcome of this match? Drop your comments, predictions and vote in the poll. . . .  

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