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Nigerians expect the Super Eagles to maintain their 100 per cent record on the road to 2010 Nations/World Cup finals this afternoon when they take on the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone inside the main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium.

But beyond victory, analysts and football fans are eager to see how Coach Shaibu Amodu will blend his existing team with some players from the Beijing Olympic silver medal-winning Dream Team IV squad, which many have clamoured for repeatedly.

Apart from defender Onyekachi Apam and striker Obinna Nsofor, both of who saw little actions at the Ghana 2008 Nations Cup early this year, other members of the sensational Beijing Olympics Dream Team in camp for today’s match include defender Dele Adeleye, midfielders Femi Ajilore and Sanni Kaita. Others are winger Chinedu Ogbuke-Obasi and Osaze Odemwingie, who was the only over-aged player in the Nigerian team to the global sports fiesta.

With the absence of Chelsea of England star, John Mikel Obi and injured Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine midfielder, Yusuf Ayila, the duo of Ajilore and Kaita are most likely to get starting roles in Nigeria’s midfield today alongside captain Nwankwo Kanu and returnee Christian Obodo.

Amodu may also want to experiment with Nsofor and Obasi on the left and right wings. Both players were a delight to watch at the Beijing Olympics, as they not only accounted for most of the goals scored by the Dream Team IV at the Games, but also initiated most of the attacks that led to those goals.
Other options available to Amodu in the attack line include Osaze, Everton of England forward, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who stood in for Kanu as captain against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Port Elizabeth in Eagles’ last game and capped his historic outing with the lone goal that gave Nigeria victory in that encounter. Getafe of Spain forward, Ikechukwu Uche, who is the team’s leading goalscorer in the ongoing Nations/World Cup qualifiers, completes the attack alongside newcomers, Joseph Apala, who made his debut in Port Elizabeth against the Bafana Bafana.

The defence line is expected to be rock solid with the return of vice-captain and Everton of England ace, Joseph Yobo, who missed action in the last game. Other regulars available include Taye Taiwo, Chidi Odia and Danny Shittu.

But Amodu may want to see how Apam and Adeleye of the Dream Team IV squad can hold their own in the Super Eagles’ squad, just as he would likely field Aiyenugba in goal to enable him gain more confidence after his spectacular showing in South Africa.

The Super Eagles go into today’s game with massive confidence following their outstanding 15 points from five previous matches in the qualifying series, a result that has already guaranteed them a place in the Nations Cup in Angola and as well as put them in pole position for passage to the next phase of the South Africa 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

The Amodu-tutored team have scored a total of seven goals without conceding any so far on the road to the 2010 championships in Angola and South Africa. But Sierra Leone, who are placed second in Group Four with seven points from five games decided so far, are still confident of making it to the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola after 12 years of absence from the continental showpiece.

"Of course, we have waited for so long. For 12 years, we have not been to the Nations Cup. Our aim is to go to the Nations Cup in Angola and we are determined to get there," captain Mohammed Kallon told Saturday Sunsport some months ago in Warri when he visited Nigeria for the Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s Testimonial Match.

"Although we lost the first leg at home to Nigeria, in football, you never can tell. I think the return leg is going to be tough, you have to expect anything. Nigeria have already qualified with 15 points, they have nothing to lose. So we shall see what is going to happen," the AEK of Athens, Greece midfielder stated.
Leone Stars Coach, Ahmed Kanu, banks on the England based duo of Nigel Reo-Coker of Aston Villa, who operates in the midfield and Watford’s Alhassan Bangura to inspire the team to victory against the star-studded Eagles.

Other players expected to do battle for the Leone Stars include Paul Kpaka, Ibrahim Kargbo and Kewilley Conteh. But Coach Kanu will miss the services of the trio of Julius Woobay, who plies his trade in Romania, Finland-based, Samuel Barley and Ibrahim Koroman, who plays his club football in the United States.

The Leone Stars would want to attempt the near impossible to beat the Super Eagles today in Abuja to keep hope alive to feature at the Nations Cup in Angola. The last time Nigeria lost to Sierra Leone was in 2002 ahead of the Korea Japan World Cup finals. The Leone Stars beat Eagles 1–0 in Freetown, a defeat that almost cost Nigeria the ticket to the mundial in the Asian continent.

Interestingly, Coach Amodu, who took over from the then sacked Dutch tactician, Bonfrere Jo, ensured Nigeria’s qualification to the World Cup that year, but he was not allowed to guide the Super Eagles to the Korea/Japan World Cup finals by the nation’s football authorities, who relieved him of his appointment as Eagles’ coach and handed the mantle to Coach Adegboye Onigbinde.

Although today’s match appears to be a mere formality for the Eagles, Amodu would want to maintain his 100 per cent record since he returned as the Super Eagles head tactician.