Pharaohs Coach, Cuper, Vows to Cage Eagles

NFF’s Tech Committee Meets Tomorrow without Oliseh

The Pharaohs of Egypt Head Coach, Hector Cuper has his sights set on caging the Super Eagles, claiming he would to call up fresh legs for the AFCON 2017 Qualifier in Kaduna next month. The seven-time African champions who have missed the last three editions of the biennial African football showpiece is leading Group G with six points from two games. Before the crunch tie billed for Kaduna, the north Africans will face Burkina Faso in an international friendly billed for Saturday. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Stallions’ encounter, the Argentine tactician is hoping to use the game against the 2013 African Cup of Nations runners to test some players in the Egyptian league. “I am happy to meet with the players again in order to explain my thoughts and therefore increase the harmony between them and the coaching staff,” Cuper said. “Burkina Faso’s game will prepare us well for the Nigeria clash in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, despite not having our players abroad, this is a good chance to test our local league’s best players,” he added. Cuper then revealed the possibility of new players joining the camp ahead of Nigeria’s clash claiming he is not moved by the inconsistency of Al Ahly and Zamalek. “The exclusion of some players from this training camp, doesn’t mean they won’t be called up for Nigeria’s clash,” he continued. “They just have to work harder and prove their worth. Therefore new players might get called up for Nigeria training camp. “I’m not worried by Al Ahly and Zamalek’s inconsistent form; this is the time for new teams and players to shine. “I hope we beat Nigeria or at least maintain the two-point difference between us, in order to qualify to the African Cup of Nations,” he concluded. Meanwhile, The Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is to meet in Abuja tomorrow morning, but without Super Eagles Head Coach Sunday Oliseh in attendance. Oliseh has said he will be in England this weekend to meet up with some of the country’s top stars in the Premier League like John Mikel Obi of Chelsea, Watford striker Odion Ighalo as well as Victor Moses, who is on loan at West Ham from Chelsea. The NFF had ordered Oliseh to Abuja on the same day to defend his call-ups for next month’s all-important AFCON 2017 qualifiers against Egypt. However, an official of the federation disclosed that the committee is expected to deliberate on the CHAN 2016 report, among other pressing technical matters affecting the various national teams. Both the Nigeria Under-23 and Under-20 male teams are expected to shortly begin training ahead of major engagements. The Olympic team is due to play a series of friendlies against Rio Olympics hosts Brazil next month, while the Flying Eagles will begin their qualifying campaign in May for the Under-20 AFCON in Zambia in 2017.