Jonathan: I want Victory In Liberia As Full Team Train In Abuja

The highest authority in the land is taking the battle for qualifications for the SA 2013 Nations Cup seriously, with President Goodluck Jonathan, putting a call to Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to tell him that he expects nothing but victory in this weekend’s match up against Liberia in Monrovia.

That was followed up by the visit of the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji, to the Eagles Bolton Apartment camp, where he said he came to represent both the Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdulahi and President Jonathan on the need for the Eagles to triumph in Monrovia on Saturday.

“I’ve not made this public but the President called me on Monday to say he wants victory at all cost and I assured him that we can get it, even when I will not physically be on the pitch, help make the President’s dream come true and he has assured that he would reward you”, Keshi told the 11 foreign based and 14 NPL stars moments before the start of training at the training pitch of the Abuja National Stadium in the nation’s capital.

Earlier, Dr Ekeji, who came unannounced and spent barely five minutes to address the players in company of NFF Scribe, Musa Amadu and other top officials said he came to give the team good tidings and also tell them the President Jonathan want victory on Saturday and believes that the team can achieve his heart desire. “The President just spoke to the Honourable Minister, Bolaji Abdulahi and he immediately instructed me to come and inform you that we want victory in Liberia, thank you gentlemen and do have a splendid training session”, Ekeji said moments before the team departed for training.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi and Skipper, Joseph Yobo, assured that the team will not let the nation down on Saturday. “We let the players do the talking on the pitch and the skipper has assured that they will excel”, Keshi said.

“Sir, we want victory much more than anybody and we will sure make Nigerians happy come Saturday, all we need is their prayers and support”, Yobo said. All the foreign based players except Vincent Enyeama, who is expected on Wednesday and their NPL counterparts trained on Tuesday night for over two hours. “I’m getting what I want and the body language is good, we hope to sustain it to achieve our aim in the Nations Cup qualifier”, Keshi declared.