OKOCHA PREDICTS A SEMI-FINAL BERTH FOR NIGERIA

Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, a former captain of the Super Eagles and a midfield dynamo, has predicted that the team can make it to the semi-finals of the 2010 World cup.

Okocha said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja. He said all the team needed is to be focused and confident in South Africa.

"The send-off for the Super Eagles by President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday will go a long way to tell them that more than 150 million Nigerians are behind them.
"They should go out there; do what they know and believe in the strength of Nigeria.
"I hope that with the quality of Coach Lars Lagerback and the experience of the players, they will make Nigeria proud," he said.

"The good thing is that when a team has a new coach, he brings in a lot of challenges for the players."

Okocha said all the players would also want to impress the new coach on their capabilities.

"The Eagles are unpredictable; we have always sailed through impossible positions and I am sure the team will defeat Argentina.

"They should see the pressure being put on them as a plus because in football it is better you have the crowd to motivate you," said the former sensational midfielder.

He urged the players to believe in themselves and play purposeful football rather than entertaining the crowd.

Nigeria's first match is against Argentina on the 12th of June 2010.