Eagles ready for Iran, says Yobo
Eagles ready for Iran, says Yobo
Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo has expressed the team’s readiness to trample upon Iran in its opening 2014 World Cup Group F opening match on June 16.
Eagles hopes to begin its World Cup campaign on a winning note when the team faces Iran at the Arena da Baixaba in Curtiba.
The 33-year old defender said that despite not winning any of its pre-World Cup friendlies, all is now set for the Eagles to have a brilliant outing in Brazil starting with the game against Iran before facing Bosnia and Argentina.
“We believe in ourselves. We have played some friendly games. Not the results we expected but we have learnt a lot from them,” Yobo said.
“(The games were) a little bit experimental as well, but now we’ re ready to go so come the first game against Iran, we’ll make sure we do very well and get the three points.
“We are also disappointed that we didn’t win because we want to win and get the confidence.
“But the game is over now. You take the positives from it and look forward to the bigger targets. We want Nigerians to still believe in this team, we need their support because without their support we can’t go anywhere,” he concluded.
Nigeria did not win any of its three pre-World Cup friendlies forcing Scotland and Greece to a draw and losing 2-1 to the United States of America.
Yobo has however denied appearance fee row with the Nigeria Football Federation, maintaining that he and his colleagues were not playing for the Super Eagles because of money.
Even at that, he said the players would press for their entitlements while representing the country.
Yobo with, Mikel Obi, met with the NFF leadership over an appearance fee for the players.
Yobo confirmed the meeting over the team’s demand for an appearance fee and further revealed the meeting would continue.
“We don’t play for Nigeria because of money. But when you work somewhere, you are entitled to certain things. You can’t deprive players from asking for their rights, this is normal. We are not demanding for anything that we are not used to,” Yobo said.
“It was a very good meeting, a quiet meeting, but I’m highly disappointed that it came out in the media.
“Yes, there was a meeting. That’s very true and the meeting is going to continue.
“I have to make sure my players are happy as I’m captain of the national team and if the players are not happy, there is no way I can be happy.
He further assured: “There is no problem. We are ready to play for Nigeria. And we won’t let this to affect us.”
Officials disclosed that for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the players were paid 25% of what the NFF received from FIFA for the country’s participation in the tournament.
The players got an initial payment of $500,000 with the balance payment thereafter.
- Daily Independent.
