VAR will lead Eagles to success in Russia, Joe Erico predicts

Former Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach, Joe Erico has predicted that the newly introduced video assistant referee technology system (VAR), which will be used at this year’s World Cup in Russia, will ensure Nigeria and other teams in the championship get fair officiating at the competition.

This development, he added, will ensure Nigeria reached its potential at the 32-team championship.

Erico advised Super Eagles’ coaches to be focused in all the friendly matches lined up for the team, adding that a well-blended squad could spring surprises in Russia. He harped on avoiding complacency, indiscipline and anything that would jeopardize the team’s organisation in match situations. 

He also urged the players invited for the friendly games against Serbia and Poland to use the matches as platform to themselves into the team, adding that their performance in the games would give Nigerians an inkling of what to expect from them in Russia. 

“The video assistant referee will to a reasonable extent eliminate the officiating errors that had worked against the country in previous competitions.

“In instances where the team feel they are not confortable with some decisions made by the referee, the technology would come to the rescue. There is no special magic in the system. The Eagles can only have advantage on this technology if they worked hard and played standard football.

“With the system, the Eagles do not need to be scared when playing against the established teams at the World Cup,” he said. 

Meanwhile, right back, Tyronne Ebuehi faces a race against time to recover from an injury he sustained in ADO Den Haag’s last match in the Dutch Eredivisie against NAC Breda, ahead of Nigeria’s friendlies against Poland and Serbia.

The injury report provided by ADO Den Haag on Tuesday confirmed that the defender has suffered a groin injury that might keep him on the sidelines.

“Beugelsdijk has a hamstring injury, while Ebuehi and Kanon have groin problems,’’ ADO Den Haag stated on their official website.

“Ebuehi and Kanon suffer from the groin area, but it is not yet known how long their recovery will last.

“Ebuehi and Kanon are also among the provisional roster of Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire respectively for the coming international break, which will take place after the coming game.’’

Ebuehi had to be substituted in the 67th minute against NAC Breda after complaining of discomfort in his groin.

The 22-year-old’s injury is a big blow to Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr, who is also sweating on the fitness of Torino’s Joel Obi and Las Palmas’ Oghenekaro Etebo ahead of the trip to Poland next week.