Liberia’s Oliseh promises Eagles ‘explosive’ clash
Sekou Oliseh
| credits:
| credits:
Liberia
top star Sekou Oliseh has said he
expects an “explosive” 2013 AFCON
qualifier against “my second country” Nigeria in September.
The gifted CSKA Moscow of Russia forward played in
Nigeria after he was adopted by football agent Churchill Oliseh, older
brother of former Nigeria skipper Sunday Oliseh.
He will now be expected to lead the charge of the
country of his birth against the Super Eagles for a place in next year’s
Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by South Africa.
Oliseh told MTNFootball.com from his Russian club’s pre-season training base that he expects an interesting clash on September 8 in Monrovia.
It is going to be an explosive game. I will not only
play against Ahmed Musa, my best friend, but I will also be facing my
second country.
“I love Nigeria because I have a father in Nigeria,
Churchill Oliseh, who made me what I am today, but I have to do my best
for Liberia in that game.
“Nigeria have a good team but Liberia will fight in this match. The better side should win the match.”
The Super Eagles have lost only once to Liberia, when they fell 2-1 during a 2002 World Cup qualifier in Monrovia.
Both countries have met 12 times with Nigeria having
upper hand with eight victories and three draws. The first meeting was
in 1963 in Monrovia which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Sekou also revealed to MTNFootball.com that it took him three years to decide whether to play for Nigeria or Liberia.
“The decision to play for Liberia was not easy because I had to choose between Nigeria and Liberia,” he said.
“I would have played for Nigeria when I was called to
the U-17 national team in 2007, but I was called for trials in Denmark
which I had to go, so from that time till 2009,I was pondering on either
I should choose Nigeria or Liberia, and it was only later that I
decided on Liberia.”
Meanwhile, Oliseh’s Nigerian teammate at CSKA Moscow
Ahmed Musa, has said his close friendship with the Liberia star will be
set aside when both countries clash in an AFCON qualifier.
Musa said there was nothing like friendship on the
pitch and that he is ready to see off his best friend and his national
team in the South Africa 2013 AFCON.
