Yobo says Nigeria will return to the top of African football once again

By Oluwashina Okeleji BBC Sport

Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo admits that coach Samson Siasia's mission of reviving the Super Eagles will be tough but he will succeed because of the desire of the players.

Siasia's side was booed by Lagos fans during Wednesday's 2-1 win over lowly Sierra Leone in a friendly.

This did little to shake off the tag of perennial underachievers.

Nigeria are faced with a daunting 2012 Nations Cup qualifying task as they trail leaders Guinea by three points.

Former international striker Siasia knows that his side will have to scale new heights if they are to make progress after taking charge of the Super Eagles for the first time during the friendly.

Yobo says the coach has given the squad a new found confidence to help them return to winning ways.

"People forget that we are just building a new team and the coach is trying hard to implement his own method, mentality and get us playing like the successful Super Eagles of old," Yobo told BBC Sport.

"Considering the condition of the astro turf, the weather and the new environment of playing in Lagos the team still showed desire and dedication against a stubborn Sierra Leone side.

"The coach has instilled discipline, a statement of fact that the he has his policy and that is one of the positives from his first game, the desire of players who were not even fit to play was phenomenal."

Critics of Nigeria point out that the squad is ageing which led Siasia to give several players including Joel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike, Peter Utaka, and Michael Odibe their first Super Eagles starts, in a bid to revamp the squad.

Yobo is certain that the new boys are yearning to make their mark with the Super Eagles and acknowledged the role of the fans if the two-time African champions are to rise again.

Nigeria are building a new squad of young players

"There is willingness and desire on the part of the players to perform and prove themselves which is good for any team that wants to progress," the Fenerbahce defender said.

"The important thing is to have a winning mentality and ability to return the country to glory days.

"The coach gave new players the opportunity to play and we lost our shape a little bit and towards the end we lost steam," he said.

"It's going to be hard to please the fans because football has gone past the stage where Nigeria won games by three to four nil.

"The fans should understand that the desire and attitude was there but we need time to get to the level that they want us to be."

With a brilliant first half against Sierra Leone and a new found spirit in the Eagles nest, Siasia and his captain need to prove that it was not just a puff of wind.

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