Former Super Eagles’ striker, Julius Aghahowa, has tipped Nigeria as favourites to win the forthcoming 2019 AFCON tournament in Egypt later this year.
Aghahowa, also known as Aghawonder, in a chat with Sport Writers in Lagos, believed the Gernot Rohr side have the qualities to rule Africa for the fourth time.
His words: “I have no doubt in my mind that the Super Eagles will lift the trophy in Egypt.
“We have a very young team with a lot of quality players and I can beat my chest that these lads are going to make us proud.
“The likes of Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi, Ndidi (Wilfried), Moses Simon, Etebo, Troost-Ekong and others are not doing badly in their various clubs in Europe.
“For me, this is a pointer that Nigeria is one of the favourites to win the Nations Cup in June.”
The former Wigan of England striker however admonished the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure that the team gets the best of preparations in other to put the players in good frame of mind ahead of the competition.
He said: “On this note, I plead with the NFF to provide the team with quality friendly games and also sort out camp allowance and winning bonus to put them in good stead for the championship.”
In a related development, Aghahowa lamented Nigeria players snub on the Africa’s finest XI by the Confederation of African Football, saying Ndidi and Ighalo deserve to make the list.
He said: “I strongly feel both players had great time in their clubs and country but I wouldn’t know the CAF’s criteria for shortlist.”