Ekoku laments absent old hands

Shefield Wednesday's former Nigerian international Efan Ekoku does not believe that his country have the physical presence to disturb England in the teams' final Group F match on Wednesday. He also feels that the coach Adegboye Onigbinde made a mistake in discarding experienced players such as Sunday Oliseh and Finidi George.

Neutrals felt that Nigeria were unlucky to finish their first two games without a point after defeats by a single goal to Argentina and Sweden. Ekoku, the former Wimbledon striker, watched both matches and claimed they had brought much of the trouble on themselves.

"I feel the experienced players left out out of the squad probably had another good World Cup left in them," he said. "It's a young team and that's made a difference. Sunday Oliseh has been an important player in midfield, giving the back four protection for about eight years. Physically, this is the weakest Nigerian side for 10 or 12 years. Physically they don't look up to the task, and that's 70 per cent of the game."

Ekoku says the 19 year-old striker Julius Aghahowa, whose goal celebrations have been a highlight of the tournament, is one of the few reasons to be more optimistic, but only if his team-mates use him better. "They've got to give the forwards something to feed off. He is a genuine scorer if you give him the ammunition, but it's like Michael Owen – if he doesn't get it he won't score either. All Nigeria can do on Wednesday is hope to salvage some pride by finishing on an upbeat note now that the pressure is off them."

For Aghahowa, who wants to leave his Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, partly because he hates the cold weather there, the incentive in his final match at the World Cup is to add to his headed goal against Sweden last Saturday and secure a move to a richer club in warmer climes.

* The Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha is set to play his last game for the Super Eagles against England on Wednesday. The 28-year-old, who is seeking a move to the Premiership, said: "I think this may be my last tournament for Nigeria. I think it is time to give others a chance to play for the national team. One cannot be there forever."