Former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Sylvanus Okpala, has expressed confidence that the national team will improve their game in their next qualifying match for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Okpala, a member of the technical crew that won the 2014 AFCON, told the News Agency of Nigeria that 80 per cent of the players that featured in the match with Chad was new to the team.
He said: “I think by next qualifying match, they will play better than they played.
“And if you watched the team, you would see that the team was a young one.
“Almost 80 per cent new boys playing together maybe for the second time or first time.
“They did their best winning 2-0.
“These days, it is not easy.
“Some people will say it is Chad.
“But is there a small team anymore in the football world?
“Everybody wants to aspire to the highest level.
“So, there is no small team anymore in world football.
“Not even in Africa.
“So I think by and large, the coach has done a very good job.
“He (Stephen Keshi) was able to, within one week, nurture these guys.
“I think they will do a lot better in other qualifying matches.
“And with this 2-0, their confidence will be boosted.”
NAN reports that Egypt and Nigeria top Group G with three points each from one match played so far, while Chad and Tanzania are on third and fourth having conceded two and three goals respectively.
Egypt, however, tops the group with a superior goals difference.
The Egyptians defeated Tanzania 3-0.
NAN.