L-R Daniel Akpeyi ,Ahmed Musa ,Kelechi Iheanacho , Kenneth Omeruo of Nigeria during International Friendly match between Nigeria against Senegal at The Hive, Barnet FC on 23rd March 2017 (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
• Home-based stars too old for Rohr’s team against Cameroon, says Obuh
The Nigeria Football federation, (NFF) has disclosed that the camp for next year’s African Nations Championship, which was slated to open today, has been shifted to Thursday.
According to Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, the invited domestic players to be supervised by Coach Salisu Yusuf, are expected to arrive in Kano on Thursday to begin preparations for the qualifier.
He noted that the NFF decided to change the date of resumption to allow the invited players to play midweek NPFL matches for their various teams. Ibitoye stated that arrangements had been concluded to ensure the team got the best of preparations ahead of the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, former Flying Eagles Manager, John Obuh, has charged the invited players to work hard to ensure Nigeria qualified for the CHAN billed for Kenya next year.
He noted that the players needed to be exposed to friendly games for proper blending and also keeping them in top shape for the qualifier.
Obuh also called on the NFF to give the home-based players the type of support always extended to their foreign-based counterparts as it would go a long way to motivate them to give their best during the qualifiers.
The former national U-17 coach affirmed that the team would qualify for the CHAN and also excel in Kenya next year if the right measures were put in place by the football house.
“CHAN is another avenue for Nigerian players in the domestic league to prove their worth. I don’t think most of the players invited for the CHAN qualifiers can be selected for the World Cup qualifier against Cameroon. I am saying this because their age is not suitable for the task ahead.
“The Eagles boss is seeking for young players to be injected into the mainstream national team and some of the invited domestic players are not young enough to meet his standard. But CHAN team needs quality friendlies and encouragement to qualify for Kenya,” he said.
Obuh opined that the CHAN, which is for only domestic players, would help improve the standard of the Nigerian league.
He also cautioned the Super Eagles against allowing the pressure of losing to South Africa in the first leg of the African Nations Cup qualifier to affect their morale when they confront Cameroun in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier in September.
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