Former board member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Elder Dickson Adejube, has warned Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi not to allow the Flames of Malawi coach, Tom Saintfiet, to distract him during this weekend’s 2014 World Cup qualifier billed for the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
The Eagles need just a draw to scale through to the final qualifying round while the Flames must pick the maximum three points to upset the Nigerians.
Speaking ahead of the game, Adejube, a retired FIFA-badged referee urged the Eagles coach not to play into the hands of the Malawi coach who will do everything possible in order to distract the team, saying that, having been denied the job of Nigeria’s Technical Director, the Belgian would want to vent his spleen on the country.
‘I want to urge the players to give the match utmost seriousness, they should not forget what happened against Kenya when we were almost beaten but escaped with a draw. Keshi and the boys should remain focused throughout the match.
‘Coach Keshi should be particularly careful about Saintfiet who would come with antics to derail his (Keshi)’s game plan. I am very optimistic that the Eagles will beat the Malawians come Saturday,’’ said the former chairman, Ondo State Football Association.
