Leon Balogun: Super Eagles coach, Samson invites Mainz defender

Interim coach of the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia, has called for midweek games in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), to be suspended to enable him to work properly with home-based players.

Siasia made this known in Abuja on Thursday while unveiling the list of 42 players invited for the two-legged African Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

The Super Eagles play Group G rivals Egypt on 25 March in Kaduna and in Alexandria on 29 March.

Musa, who captained the Eagles to victory in the last game against Swaziland, expressed confidence in the ability of the caretaker coaches to lead the team to victory.

I carefully selected them and I want to make sure that I know them very well. "Remember we don't concede easily anymore", said the former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund player.

One good thing here is that I have received the full backing of the players.

The former Super Eagles striker also disclosed that the NFF has helped him to acquire about six video tapes of the past games of the Pharaohs, which he is now studying, adding that the tapes would guide him in mapping out his strategies to beat them in Kaduna.

He said: "I told Enebi to contact all the players because he has all their contacts". In terms of fans, it is the best place for us to play right now. I am not absolving the foreigners completely but they don't stoop so low as to forcefully sell wristwatches to their players or ask them to pay "Tithe'".

The 2017 AFCON will be hosted by Gabon between January and February.

"I must have to commend the NFF for taking such a decision because Siasia has been there before and will use his wealth of experience to rebuild the team and get the maximum points against Egypt in the back to back AFCON qualifiers later in the month".