LAGERBACK NEEDS SIASIA IN SOUTH AFRICA – ETIM

A former Super Eagles midfielder Etim Esin said on Wednesday that coach Lars Lagerback would need the technical expertise of former Flying Eagles coach Samson Siasia to succeed at the World Cup.

Esin told our correspondent on the telephone that Siasia's experience as a World Cup player and a coach could be of help to the Swede in South Africa.

He said, 'Lagerback has selected his 44 players for camping but that does not guarantee that we will have a good team to face Argentina on June 12.

'One thing I'm happy about is that he has six home-based players on the list, unlike what we had in the last Nations Cup. However, I believe he could have done better with his selection if he had an experienced coach around him.

'Lagerback knows little about our football so he should have requested for the assistance of Siasia who has played against Argentina and Greece in the World Cup. He has also coached teams against Argentina twice; both at FIFA U-20 World Cup and the Beijing Olympics.

'I know Siasia would have loved to be in charge of the team for the World Cup but if the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee had convinced him the nation needed him, he would have agreed to assist Lagerback.

'Siasia has a way with the youth that bonds him with the players. The U-20 World Cup in Egypt may have been a failure for him but we should remember that he got to the finals in two major competitions.'

Esin said some players in the 44-man squad did not deserve to be invited. He did not identify the players but he was certain they would be the ones to be dropped before the final selection.