Valerenga of Norway midfield star, Fengor Ogude tells MTNFootball.com there will be no hiding place for Guinea on October 8 as Nigeria’s Super Eagles aim to qualify for next year’s Nations Cup in fine style.
What fired the Super Eagles to win the match away in Madagascar despite the much reported bad pitch of the host team?
We had no option than to beat Madagascar on their bad pitch since we needed the victory and the three points to be in contention for the ticket to the Africa Nations Cup in our group.
I will also commend the Nigeria Football Federation for flying us to Madagascar in time as this gave us a very good opportunity to train on the poor pitch and we were able to get used to it before match day.
We were very proud and happy to beat the home team 2-0 and were in good mood on our way to Bangladesh for the Argentina friendly.
Did you get enough support in Madagascar?
Yes. The Nigerian Supporters Club was great. They actually motivated. One good thing they did was that when the goals were not coming that was the time their support was more visible.
They danced, beat their drums and blew their trumpets so loud to motivate us. This actually lifted our spirits and we thought we were playing in Nigeria and thank God we rose to the occasion.
Then should Nigerians be rest assured that the Super Eagles will beat Guinea in Abuja to pick the 2012 Africa Nations Cup?
After our 2-0 victory in Madagascar, we discussed the last match against Guinea in Abuja and we all resolved that there would be no hiding place for Guinea in Abuja come October 8.
Everybody appreciates the fact that we need the three points at stake in Abuja to be at the Nations Cup. We are playing at home and we have the advantage of playing before our fans who will support us all the way.
So, I believe with such solid support we will do our best to beat Guinea well and be at the Nations Cup next January.
I promise Nigerians that we will score more than one goal to make everybody happy. But Nigerians have to pray for us to achieve an outstanding result against Guinea.
What is the relationship between coach Samson Siasia and the players in the team?
If given the chance and the needed support and encouragement from the players, the NFF and Nigerians, Samson Siasia will build a super team for Nigeria.
Siasia and the other members of the technical crew actually know what they want and are gradually building such a team. They know how to identify good players and they encourage every player in the team to succeed.
Their watch words are discipline and dedication which I believe is gradually working for them.
We know Fengor Ogude to be a defensive midfield player. But what other positions can you play?
The way I conditioned myself is that whatever position my coach ask me to play I am always ready to play and give my best as I’m a team player. I can also fit in well in the central defence.
In my club in Norway, sometimes my coach plays me in the central defence where, according to him, I have always proved myself. An example was our match against Liverpool, where I played in the central defence in a 3-3 draw.
I can play at the right back too. But I have been playing in the midfield and central defence very often.
How do you see the competition for first-team places in the Eagles?
Competition is stiff in camp. Everybody is aware of the fact that if you play good in training, you are sure of a starting place in the team. So the camp is always lively now and the competition among us is great. Whenever you get the chance the best thing for you is to utilise it well. The slogan in the team is – play well, support each other and achieve victory.
The coaches and even the senior players in the team are not treating we the younger ones like junior players. They encourage us and make us feel we are one and there is no senior player among us. We are a united front and we actually translate this on the field of play.? So, everybody in camp is happy.
The coaches and the skipper of the team Joseph Yobo and other seniors in the team talk to us about how to succeed as a Super Eagles player on and off the field. This always inspires us to put in our all whenever we come in even as substitutes in matches.
We believe playing as substitutes in matches doesn’t matter, and that the end result which is victory, is the most important thing to us in the team.
Then you must have been disappointed that the Eagles lost 3-1 to Argentina in Bangladesh despite beating same team in the first friendly in Abuja in June.
We were not disappointed at all if you put into consideration what we passed through before getting to the venue of the match and the stress of playing an important qualifying match and moving straight same day on a long journey (of 15 hours flight) to play another important and tough friendly against one of the best teams in the world.
Unfortunately, we got to Bangladesh on Monday and we played against Argentina the following day. We were disappointed to lose but we still thank God that we showed we are a quality team. If we get the chance to play them another time and without any burden of playing a qualifying match, then they would surely meet a stiffer opposition.
You came on in the second half to mark out the best player in the world Lionel Messi?
I believe I followed his instructions which showed in the match. After the match, he came up to me again and told me I did a great job. I am happy that I did what he asked me to do because the best thing to do for your coach is to follow his instructions to the letter.??
How did your coach at Valerenga rate you after the Liverpool match?
My club coach is aware I can also play in the central defence. So he deployed me to mark the top striker and after the match he came back and praised me for doing well in the match. He, however, advise me to continue to work very hard so that I could be the player he wants me to be. So I am very happy doing well for both club and country.
Have you got any offers in Europe this season?
For now all I know is that I am a Valerenga player. But I pray that something positive comes my way soon and when that happens everybody will know. I will make sure I continue to do my best.?
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