Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu says he will make changes to his next squad
Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu has said he will be making changes to his squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifier at home to Kenya on 6 June.
The Super Eagles could only manage a goalless draw away to Mozambique in March in the first game of the final round of qualifying.
The lethargic performance in Maputo and unimpressive displays in friendlies against Colombia and Jamaica has led to severe criticism of the coach and players in the local media.
"There is still so much to do because this present squad have not shown enough determination and aggression like a group that wants to play at the World Cup," says Amodu.
"What we truly need now are players who are aggressive, hard-fighting, like Dickson Etuhu, Yusuf Ayila and Danny Shittu based on what he has shown so far.
"We will certainly be making relevant changes because we cannot afford to lack the basics needed to earn a ticket to South Africa.
"But that does not mean we are underestimating players who took us this far."
The main issue is to transfer a fighting spirit, determination and team-work from the training ground on to the pitch
Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu
His interests in Fulham's Etuhu and Dynamo Kiev's Ayila will keep many critics happy following his decision to leave out the duo for the games against Jamaica and Mozambique.
With two friendly games against Ireland on 29 May in London and France four days later in St Etienne coming up the under-fire coach is clearly aware of the dangers ahead.
"We must pick maximum points in the other games, significantly the back-to-back ties with Tunisia, which will determine whether we go to the World Cup or not," he said.
"Nigeria cannot qualify for the World Cup after one game. We must play all six matches and at the end we will know who qualifies for the World Cup.
"It will be a very hard fight, because the Tunisians are showing aggression.
"We have to fight and find a way to counter our opponents and to find the channels in which we are going to be successful as a unit.
"The main issue is to transfer a fighting spirit, determination and team-work from the training ground on to the pitch."
Nigeria are two points behind group leaders Tunisia in Group 2 of the World Cup qualifying tournament.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] on Thursday inaugurated an 11-man mobilization committee for the remaining 2010 World Cup qualifying matches.
The committee has been given the responsibility of ensuring Nigeria make it to South Africa.
The sports ministry have also set up a committee of their own to investigate the theft of US$236,000 in March from the NFF offices in Abuja.
The investigation was announced the day after another break at the NFF when burglars stole a laptop and mobile phone from the accounts office.
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