Super Eagles will need grade A friendly matches to shape up ahead of the second phase of World Cup qualifiers in August. This was the submission of former international Franklin Howard while assessing the performance of the Gernot Rohr led side so far.
He described two victories in a roll against Zambia and Algeria respectively as a major boost noting however that non-qualification for the Nations cup in January in Gabon means the team will have to wait for close to nine months before the next set of qualifiers. Such long gap according to him can affect performance unless efforts are made to organise friendly matches that will ensure that the current blend among players continues.
“We just have to ensure that they boys play quality friendly matches to shape up for the next phase, they have done very well so far but will need to continue the blend to consolidate,” he said.
The former 3SC coach dismissed debates in some quarters over whether the team can continue to lead the group, insisting that it would be difficult for both Cameroon and Algeria to clinch victories in Ndola like the Eagles did.
“After losing at home to Eagles the Zambians will want to avoid another home defeat so it will be difficult for other teams in the group to win in Ndola,” he predicted.
Of the four teams in the group Cameroon and Algeria qualified for the AFCON 2017 in Gabon while Nigeria and Zambia failed to make it.