'EAGLES WILL FLY HIGH IN MALAWI'

By NBF News

Super Eagles defender Juwon Oshaniwa says the team will do well in their next World Cup qualifying match against the Flames of Malawi on Saturday.

Oshaniwa, who plays for Sharks FC of Port Harcourtsaid shortly before their departure from Calabar on Tuesday that with the victory against Namibia, the team's spirit had been lifted up.

He said as group leaders, the type of tough opposition was expected from the Namibians.

'Its going to be a great one because presently on the group, we are on the top and you know what it means.

'Whenever any team below is to play the team at the top, you, know, the team at the top is going to have an edge over the team below.

'So, we are going to work more harder and make sure that we come out victorious there and I pray God give us his divine favour and mercy over there and make us come out victorious.'

Oshaniwa, who has had six caps for the national team, said the match against Namibia was tough but that they were happy for picking the three points at stake.

According to him, the Eagles tried their best in the match and that at the appropriate time, the goal came.

He said local players in the Eagles had given a good account of themselves, saying that very soon, they would blend with the foreign-based colleagues.

The defender re-assured Nigerians that the team would not disappoint them and would continue to work harder and play to coach's instructions.

. . .  depart for Malawi on tomorrow
The Senior Men's National Football Team, known as Super Eagles, will fly out of Nigeria to Malawi on Thursday night aboard a chartered flight, for Saturday's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Flames.

Officials confirmed on Tuesday that the team will leave on Thursday night and arrive in Blantyre, capital of Malawi, in the early hours of Friday, and will be able to train on Friday evening on the artificial turf of the Kamuzu Stadium.

On Sunday at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, the wards of Stephen Keshi defeated Namibia's Brave Warriors 1-0 in the start to the race to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and on Monday, the team flew back to Abuja in order to get accustomed to artificial turf by training at the FIFA Technical Centre's facility, inside the National Stadium Complex.

On Tuesday, an advance party of NFF officials left the country for Malawi, so as to prepare ground for the team's arrival on Friday morning.

Saturday's match at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre will start at 2.30pm Malawi time (1.30pm Nigeria time) and will be refereed by officials from Mauritius.