As the Super Eagles of Nigeria await their opponents at the World Cup draws that would be conducted on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa, assistant coach of the national team, Fatai Amoo, says one prayer uppermost in his mind is that the Eagles should not be grouped alongside Spain and Brazil.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Amoo said, "Whether we like it or not, these big teams would fall into certain groups but for me I wish we can still avoid them at least in the early stages."
Spain are the current European champions and sit on top of the monthly rankings.
Rough road
Though Nigeria barely made it through to the World Cup, Amoo says the technical team has put the past behind and is looking forward to a memorable outing in South Africa, hoping the Eagles could go far and perhaps win the trophy.
"It's a tall order no doubt but it is not unachievable if we put our minds to it and work hard. The so-called difficult team can also be defeated, teams get better as a they settle down into tournaments, so if we can have a good start we can look on to build on that," he said.
Team list
According to the tactician, a list of players to begin camping for the Nations Cup in Angola has already been drafted and will soon be made public. He hinted that some home-based players will be in the team which would begin camping later this month in Namibia.
"We are on course and preparations have started in earnest for the Nations Cup as we are set to make our list public. We hope the players would be injury free and things go on as we planed," he said.
Assessing the Eagles' weekend performance in their respective clubs, Amoo said, "it's been up and down for them, some are having a good time while it's not the same for others but that is football. When you have your opportunity you make the best of it."
Eagles' focus
Also Former Super Eagles midfielder Emeka Ezeugo, also speaking in a telephone interview, says focus should be on making it past the first round.
Ezeugo, who toured four continents in a 15-year playing career, maintained that Nigeria's focus should be on making it past the first round regardless of the teams the Super Eagles get drawn with.
His words: "We cannot avoid the big names in football today since we are not one of the seeded teams so let's work towards it. It is time we introduced something classy and world class or (we will) end up just making up the numbers."
The 42-year-old noted that with Nigeria's penchant for getting drawn with strong teams in most international competition, it would be surprising if the Super Eagles does not get drawn in a group of death.
"In 1994 we played Argentina in the group stages; Paraguay and Spain in 1998; Sweden, England and Argentina in 2002 so why should this draw be different?" He asked. "The important thing isn't who we get drawn with but what we have put in place to make it out of the group, like we did in ‘94 and ‘98 or get booted out as it happened in 2006."
‘Old wine in new bottle does not taste new'
He further emphasised that for the Super Eagles to give a masterpiece performance at the mundial against any opponent an influential and experienced person must be in charge of the team.
Suggesting names, the former defender said: "When I say experienced I mean someone with global understanding of the game, who has been there and done that. Someone like Jurgen Klinsman who led Germany to the 2006 world cup, Franz Beckenbauer and Barcelona's Pep Guardiola. These people brought a change in the team they led, if something new is expected from the Super Eagles we need a change, if not what we have seen so far is what we will continue to see."
Ezeugo also noted that Nigeria football is stuck in a "perpetual time warp".
"We are stuck in a time warp, placing old wine in new bottles and expecting it to taste new," he said. "Football has moved way beyond the comprehension of our managers. We still do things the way it was done in the 70's forgetting you cannot teach what you don't know."
All in place for 2010 draws
Meanwhile, with nearly a year of preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup final draw, the competition's LOC manager for South Africa's Cape Town Venue, Teral Cullen, who has been the operational head of the operation, is confident the draw will run without a hitch.
She is quoted on FIFA.com as saying: "Over the last 10 days everyone involved has put in an enormous effort. They've really put their noses to the ground and worked flat out, with many late nights and early mornings. The Draw Hall and stage is complete and rehearsals have already started."
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