After the lack-lustre 2-2 draw away in Monrovia on Saturday against the Lone Stars, Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo has begged President Goodluck Jonathan and football-loving Nigerians to rally round the team.
He said the team need that support when they file out for the second leg match of the final qualifying round of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on October 22.
Yobo in a chat with Goal.com in Abuja before leaving for his base in Turkey sent the passionate plea to President Jonathan and the entire country to forgive his team for not fulfilling their promise of beating Liberia in Monrovia on Saturday. He, however, vowed that the team would do the business in the return leg in Nigeria next month.
“Firstly I am on my knees begging Mr. President and the Nigerians to forgive us for not getting victory away to Liberia,” said Yobo to Goal.com.
He also used the medium to urge President Jonathan to watch Eagles match against Liberia live in Calabar next month in order to fire the team up for the match.
“We have resolved to do this at home by the special grace of God. The entire team of the Super Eagles would be forever grateful to Mr President for breaking a 30 year old record to pay a personal visit to the team in Abuja before our departure to Monrovia for the match.
?“I would tell you honestly that visit really geared us up in Monrovia most especially when we were 1-0 down.
“We told ourselves on the pitch that we must not let Mr. President and the whole nation down.
“It’s just a pity that we couldn’t hold on to our lead and win the game but we thank God that we got an important 2-2 draw in the match which could prove vital for our qualification at home,” the Fenerbahce defender added.
He was also upbeat on Nigeria’s qualification for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa. “The qualification is right in our hands now and the only thing we need to do is ensure that Liberia do not win here in Nigeria and we should avoid them scoring too.
“So if we could wrap things up by winning the match or at least playing either a 0-0 or 1-1 score draw we will be home and dry”, the record caps winner for the Super Eagles concluded.
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