Home-Based Super Eagles To face Canada, Ghana, Cameroon
The home-based players of the Super Eagles of Nigeria have another chance to show why they deserve more opportunities in the senior national team when they play friendly matches against Canada, Ghana and Cameroon.
The team recently lost 4-0 to Mexico in an international friendly game played at the Los Angeles Coliseum in California, United States.
Speaking after the game watched by over 50,000 fans, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, revealed that the federation was on the verge of finalising arrangements for the friendly games, which would hold before the 2022 World Cup qualifiers begin later this year.
He added that the matches would hold in the 73,000 capacity M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, United States.
“This is the launchpad we are providing for you to showcase your talents,” Pinnick said while addressing the players. “This team is our pride, and we will keep you and monitor you because you are the next big thing in Nigerian football.”
“In October, we will be flying the team to Baltimore for friendly games against Ghana possibly, Cameroun and Canada, maybe. We will sort that out in the coming weeks. We will tidy up all the documentation. You will be playing at the 73,000 capacity M&T Bank Stadium.”
In the game against Mexico, Nigeria presented a team made up of players from the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) with Ibrahim Sunusi, who plays for Montreal FC the only foreign-based star in the squad.
The team’s inexperience showed as they fell to the Mexicans with goals from Hector Herrera, Rogelio Funes Mori and Jonathan dos Santos.
Speaking on the game, Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, praised the team for ‘a good outing.’
“These are young players playing in front of over 50,000 fans in a foreign land. It was not easy but they showed they can play this game,” Rohr said. “We are very happy that fans are returning to stadiums after a long time playing in empty stadiums.”
“Mexico is number 11 in the world and our young team consist of the best players in the professional league at home. They have learnt a lot from this game. I saw some interesting players who could be useful in our next World Cup qualifiers. Some of these players still have to work to improve physically.”
Rohr explained that the game was part of Nigeria’s preparations for the World Cup qualifiers, which will start with a home team against Liberia on September 3.
“A few days later, we hope to play against Cape Verde before meeting Central African Republics,” Rohr added. ” It is a long way to the World Cup, but this match has shown that some of the local players can play in the World Cup qualifiers.”
“The match was a good lesson for my players because Mexico are one of the favourites for the Gold Cup.”
Chidi Nwoke/The Guardian.
stop wasting our money.organise friendly matches for the team A and not home base team you will end up not using atall