Lagerback Concentrates On Eagles' Defence

Lagos — Nigeria coach, Lars Lagerback, is laying emphasis on a tight Eagles defence at the World Cup next month. Like most African teams, the Eagles defensive discipline has come under criticisms, and after watching a load of videos of the team's past games over the past year or so, Lagerback has set to work on how the team could keep out the other team more effectively.

"His focus has been on the defence, going by our first two training sessions in Abuja. He has been thorough about this, and reminds most of us of what we are used to at our clubs in Europe," said Red Bull Salzburg defender, Rabiu Afolabi.

"We are really excited by what we have seen in our first trainings with the coach. The defenders have to work for each other," added Olympique Marseille defender, Taye Taiwo.

A reporter who sneaked into the closed training of the team on Saturday afternoon at Abuja National Stadium told MTNFootball.com: "It was really a sharp departure from what we were used to seeing with Coach (Shuaibu) Amodu. The team played two-a-side and the emphasis was on defence.

"Lagerback got the team to repeat several defending moves. When (Chinedu) Obasi would beat Taye Taiwo on the left wing, he will call back the action and get them to start all over again."

Taiwo also revealed that the simple, easy-going drills have been physically demanding.

"The exercises look very easy and simple, but by the time we finished them, we all knew we had punished our bodies. It was tough," said the former Lobi Stars left back.

Lagerback himself has praised the attitude of the players in training.

"I'm satisfied with the attitude of the players in training, and expects more from them going forward," he said.

Nigeria is pitched against Argentina, South Korea and Greece in the first round of the World Cup, which kicks off June 11 in Johannesburg.

COURTESY DAILY INDEPENDENT