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The Nigerian nationwide staff might be anticipated to place up a great exhibiting on the continental championship set to kick off early subsequent yr
Former Nigeria worldwide Segun Odegbami has identified the weaknesses that coach Jose Peseiro should work on if the Tremendous Eagles are to achieve success on the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Soccernet.ng reviews.
Nigeria might be among the many favourites to wrestle the AFCON title from reigning champions Senegal when hostilities start in Ivory Coast.
The Tremendous Eagles, nevertheless, didn’t impress many after they stumbled to 2 rating attracts towards Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November within the opening rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying marketing campaign.
And Odegbami, the highest goalscorer on the 1978 and 1980 AFCON, insists that the Tremendous Eagles’ largest issues are within the midfield and goalkeeping departments.
“The current Tremendous Eagles usually are not sturdy in two main areas of the sphere – the mid-field and goalkeeping,” the previous Capturing Stars winger wrote in the Guardian.
“There may be little that may be carried out in regards to the staff’s power with out the affect of some gamers with distinctive expertise and skill in sure areas of the staff.
“Presently, there’s a dearth of inventive and attacking midfield gamers who can maintain and distribute the balls nicely.
“Goalkeeping has turn into an issue solely as a result of Peseiro refuses to see the distinction between an environment friendly goalkeeper and one whose solely qualification is his bodily body.
“The final purpose towards Zimbabwe, scored immediately from a free kick 30 metres from his purpose clearly uncovered Uzoho’s weak point. It’s an elementary goalkeeping error.”
Odegbami, nevertheless, stays optimistic that the Tremendous Eagles might be able to do nicely on the AFCON and has urged the Nigeria Soccer Federation to not sack coach Pesiero.
The 1980 AFCON winner believes Napoli striker Victor Osimhen can lead the Tremendous Eagles to continental glory in Ivory Coast.
“Nigeria is blessed with loads of good gamers presently,” Odegbami continued.
“With a bit little bit of luck, extra endurance and the time shortly earlier than AFCON 2024 used correctly to construct a stronger staff, plus the return of one of many deadliest strikers on the planet, Victor Osimhen, within the staff, Nigeria shall enhance steadily into AFCON 2024.
“In January, the staff will use the group matches of the championship to get higher and probably go on to win AFCON 2024.
“They’ll then achieve the important confidence to play extra constantly and (on the finish of AFCON) set up a stronger staff that shall be capable of go into the World Cup qualifying matches with extra power and goal and qualify for the World Cup as true champions of African soccer.”
Nigeria have received the AFCON thrice, with the Eagles’ final triumph within the competitors coming in South Africa in 2013.
