Don’t Fear Barca Stars, Keshi charges Eagles

•Xaxi Hernandex of Catalonia

Chief Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, has charged his players not to overrate the star-studded Catalonia  side when they clash in an international friendly match at Espanyol’s 40,500 capacity Estadi Cornellà-El Prat tonight.

Catalonia Manager Johan Cruyff, has named 10 Barcelona top players along with seven from city rivals Espanyol to tackle the Nigerian team.

•Xaxi Hernandex of Catalonia
•Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa

The list made available to the Nigerian delegation on arrival in Barcelona, has Barcelona’s first choice goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, star players; Xavi Hernandez, Carlos Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Martin Montoya, Sergio Roberto, Christian Tello and Marc Bartra.

The players he will parade from Espanyol are: Joan Verdi, Joan Capdevilla, Sergio Garcia, Kiko Casilas, Raul Rodriguez, Victor Sanchez, and Sergio Tejera. The others are AC Milan’s Bojan Rkic, Getafe’s Alvaro Vazquez, Jordi Amat and Francesco Medina ‘Piti’ both of Rayo Vallecano and Red Bulls Zalburg’s Jonathan Soriaro.

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Although, Catalonia walloped the Eagles 5-0 when both countries first met at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on 22 December, 1998, Keshi believes tonight’s game will be a different ball game.

“These are big names in Catalonia squad no doubt, but our players know that names alone don’t play football these days. We will just go out there and give our best against them,” Keshi said.

“What happened in 1998 is totally different from now. Our intention towards the game is different. It is a test game for the Eagles and we want to see some of them in a match situation. And it’s going to be a good test against a side with quality and top footballers,” Keshi said.

Keshi is expected to prosecute the friendly game with majority of home-based players with a handful of professional players who are currently at Nigeria’s camp in Portugal.

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