TheCable

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, believes no player is irreplaceable in the country.  

Vincent Enyeama, and specifically, Emmanuel Emenike quit the senior national team recently. But Oliseh said “only Nigeria is irreplaceable”.

“Emenike served Nigeria well and I think he gave it a lot of thoughts before he decided to retire; we wish him all the best, but nobody is irreplaceable, only Nigeria is irreplaceable,” he told NAN.

“I think Nigeria produced great players Africa has ever seen, but they retired and Nigeria did not die, however, we should thank him (Emenike) for what he did for Nigeria.”

Oliseh, who described the Swaziland encounter on Friday, November 13, as “very crucial”, said that his ambition was to see the country play at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“I want to get my country to the pool stage and eventually to the World Cup and that is what our ambition is,” he said.

“We always have the reason to entertain fear against any opponent, because if we don’t respect them, we will be kicked out and this is a World Cup qualifier.

“Swaziland is a difficult team; the team shocked Guinea and it is not going to be easy playing them, especially on an artificial turf in their home.

“So, we know what is waiting for us because we have had our wake-up call with Tanzania; the boys are in good spirit, so, I am optimistic.”

The former Super Eagles captain also said every player in camp has equal opportunity of making the starting line up.

“Everybody has a chance of playing; we didn’t invite anybody here for holiday,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned, where one play doesn’t matter; if a home player proves to be better in form, he will start the game.”

The team which is expected to depart Abuja for Swaziland on a chartered Arik airline would fly to Port Harcourt after the encounter for the return-leg match scheduled for Tuesday, November, 17.