The Super Eagles must prepare for match against Egypt - Rufai

– The Super Eagles must prepare well for the
crucial Nations cup qualifier against Egypt
– Sunday Oliseh needs to evaluate himself
– The team should take positive lessons from the
CHAN exit
Nigeria's ex-international and arguably the best
Nigerian goalkeeper of all time Peter Rufai also
known as 'Dodo Mayana', was at the launch of
Ikorodu United, one of the Lagos based newly
promoted side to the Nigerian premier league.
In an interview with Naij.com Sports, the ex number
one shot-stopper thanked the management of
Ikorodu United for returning elite football to Nigeria's
commercial hub.
He also cautions Sunday Oliseh on the crucial
Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers which are fast
approaching.
Excerpts:
Naij.com Sports: Sir, Ikorodu United are being
launched into the premier league
, how do you feel about this?
I have to give the management big kudos. Not just for
the success, but one-for-one I can tell you, it would
not have been easy.
They have been consistent. If you want to move to the
elite league anywhere in the world, there are big
challenges, especially in this part of the world.
Having set up a team like this, you fit in the right
people into positions, and this has told their story.
Players of Ikorodu United display their kit
Looking at the management and the players, the
technical crew, it is not easy managing players in this
country. I can tell you, for them to have been able to
keep these boys from different background is a big
kudos.
For them to be promoted into the elite league, the
fans in Lagos that have been longing for this; in fact
we thought we would have it with Stationery Stores, it
did not come true All efforts did not go well.
This time around, Ikorodu United have made it and I
am glad on that note.
Naij.com Sports: Looking at the Super Eagles and
their early exit at the African Nations
Championship, how did you feel as an ex-
international?
Personally, I don't think that tells well on grounds of
what we should be doing now in Africa and in the
world, in terms of football.
It is over three decades since Nigeria had dominated
the scene; I am talking about the 80s, before my time,
then during my time. Right now, we should be in a
position of both knowledge of the game and playing
of the game, as well as the knowledge of
tournaments and participation and knowledge of
preparation.
With all these, Nigeria today should have been
masters. So, it tells it all. I am disappointed that up
till now, we are still struggling with the game itself.
I think the challenges the team had encountered, we
hear different information about not properly being
taken care of and all that, but I know the present
administration are doing everything within their
reach. Now we have a Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, a
man with a well-proven knowledge of soccer
management alongside Amaju Pinnick, the president.
Peter Rufai
So, we know they are good hands and I wonder what
would have happened. However, if we want to look at
another perspective where we should know it is time
to raise new players for the national team
To do this for the future, we should be ready to take
the challenges.
So I think the exit at CHAN has served as a lesson and
we should take it as a build-up process.
Naij.com Sports: Now the World Cup and Nations
Cup qualifiers are fast approaching, what lessons
have we learnt from the early exit in Rwanda?
The early exit took everyone by surprise, because
they walloped their Nigerien opponents in the first
game
.
Their game against Tunisia was a big one, as the
North Africans are never push overs in African
football; the last game against Guinea; I used to know
the Guineans as a very tough team, though many
would not observe this. The Camaras of those days,
whenever we play against these guys, we are always
on our toes.
So we should not let over confidence over shadow
us. So, this has served as a lesson for the boys.
I hope this would be a morale booster for the team.
Naij.com Sports: Sir, the Super Eagles will play a
crucial AFCON qualifier against the Pharaohs of
Egypt about 7 weeks from now, what are the
'ingredients' missing which you think Oliseh can
quickly work on?
We don't have anything missing in terms of expertise
in our football. I only believe Oliseh would evaluate
himself and then pick-up over expectations and work
towards the victory of this crucial encounter.
Naij.com Sports: Finally, what's your advice for
the Ikorodu United players?
Fantastic! Number one they must be discipline, as
long as they have this. You can describe the word
discipline in over a hundred of pages.
As long as they can handle this with commitment,
then the sky is not their limit. They would go as far as
possible.