Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu Ugochukwu has spoken glowingly about the national team’s preparation for their upcoming international games against Algeria and Argentina.
Members of the Super Eagles converged in Rabat, the Moroccan capital on Monday where they trained for Friday’s inconsequential World Cup qualifier in Algeria and next Tuesday’s top of the pile friendly against Argentina.
The camp site in Rabat is a beautiful place, we don’t have anything to complain about,” begun the Hapoel Beer’Sheva star to www.aclsports.com before the team left on Thursday morning.
“The camp is good, the pitch is fine, the weather is good and the food is good too so yeah we’re just working together to go to Algeria to win and prepare for the game against Argentina as well because these are big games for us even though we know we’ve qualified, no one is going to take these games easily.”
It is common knowledge that Nigeria are one of just two African nations to have sealed their passage to Russia 2018 and that development leaves Nigerians unsure of what the approach will be against Rabah Madjer’s Foxes on Friday.
“We are approaching the game like the last one against Zambia,” assures the former Academica Coimbra midfielder.
“We want to win against Algeria, we want to end the qualification series with a win.
“It’s not going to be easy with Algeria coming out with full force, playing to win for pride and for their country so it’s not going to be an easy game but we’re prepared, we’re ready and looking forward to the game against Algeria.”
Ogu has only played once for the national team under the current head coach Gernot Rohr – a friendly against Senegal in March – but might be in contention to feature in Friday’s game against Algeria after the coach confirmed on Wednesday he will make changes due to injuries to key players (https://www.aclsports.com/6713-2/ ).
The burly midfielder who has eleven senior team caps for Nigeria is however saddened by the spate of injuries to his teammates but insists the rest will be ready to help.
“It’s not something nice to hear that your colleagues and teammates are injured but yeah injuries are part of the game and you don’t wish for such things to happen to anyone of us.
“These are key players and them missing out of these games is not something to be happy about but as the coach has said, players that haven’t had the chance to play will get the chance.
“That’s why we’re here. We are all here to help each other, to work hard and to fight for the country and that’s what we’re going to give out against Algeria and Argentina,” he submitted.
Group B winners Nigeria will face Algeria in Constantine at 8:30pm local time (same in Nigeria) on Friday night.
