The team representing Nigeria at the 2013 Standard Chartered Road to Anfield Tournament arrived in Liverpool on Saturday via Amsterdam and Manchester and promised to improve on last year's performance.
The Standard Chartered Trophy is only in its second year and Nigeria finished ninth among 10 teams last year.
"We thought it was going to be a jamboree, so we didn't prepare well," says team captain Funlola Oni.
"This year, we are better prepared and we hope to do better than last year."
The Managing Director and CEO, Standard Chartered Nigeria, Mrs. Bola Adesola, charged the Nigerian team to win the trophy before they left home. Team manager and chaperon, Joke Adu, is hoping they can do just that.
"The team have worked hard for this tournament and we remain positive that we will bring home the trophy. We have received tremendous support from our colleagues and we won't let them down," Adu says.
All the participating teams in the tournament, billed for May 18 to 22, attended Liverpool's last Premier League game of the 2012/2013 season against Queens Park Rangers at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. The tournament will also be played at Anfield.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who was the star attraction at the welcome dinner organised for the participating countries on Saturday night, encouraged fair play.
"You can't forecast whether you will win a match, lose or draw. What is important is to put in your best effort and take the outcome with dignity. That is what I always tell my players," he said as the 'Mersey Beatles' performed live and treated guests to many tracks of the original Beatles.
