The Super Eagles will regroup July 15 in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, for the return leg of the African Nations Championship qualifier against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan.
The match is scheduled for July 27.
Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, told the players after the 4-1 mauling of the Ivorians in the final leg qualifier that the players must return to their club sides and ensure that they make valuable contributions to their teams while awaiting the list of those who will make it to Abidjan.
Keshi warned that any invited player who fails to make it to Abuja on the said date should forget about the return leg game as there is plenty of work to be done despite the wide margin first leg victory over the Elephants.
“We cannot afford to take our feet off the pedal because we have won here, the Ivorians are a very good side and we must be very ready for the return leg so that we don’t get shocked,” Keshi enthused.
The Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Christopher Green, had a similar position on the opposition, noting that once again the Eagles were wasteful in front of goal and must gird their loins properly for the return leg to avoid a shocker.
Green said: “We won well but we could have done better.
“How can we explain a team that was two men down was still threatening us and even being picked for off sides.
“It means we have a lot of work to do and I trust the technical crew will handle the situation.”
Keshi has already said he hopes to invite at least three new players to fortify the squad for the return leg while those players who did not measure up to standard in the first leg in Kaduna will be dropped.
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