Former
international, Franklin Howard, has urged the Super Eagles to take
Tuesday’s friendly against the Stallions of Burkina Faso in Kaduna
seriously to avoid a shock result.
Burkina Faso were dark horses at the
Africa Cup of Nations in January but they made it to the final where
they lost 1-0 to Nigeria.
Howard, who spoke with our correspondent
in Calabar on Saturday, warned that the Stallions could aim for victory
to revenge their defeat by the Eagles in the final of 2013 Africa Cup
of Nations in South Africa.
He said, “Burkina Faso are a tough side,
we saw what they played at the AFCON final where we could only defeat
them by a lone goal.
“I want to believe the Eagles won’t
underrate them. Keshi can feature the players that have not been
properly tested against an African side. This will help him make the
best selection for the World Cup play-offs.
The former Shooting Stars coach, who was
in the stands when Nigeria defeated Malawi 2-0 in their World Cup
qualifier in Calabar on Saturday, praised coach Stephen Keshi’s
tactics for the encounter.
He said, “I expected the victory, and I believe Nigeria will qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next year.
“I don’t care who Nigeria will meet in
the play-offs because the Eagles are gradually becoming a side many
teams want to avoid.”
The former Flying Eagles captain hailed Keshi for giving domestic league players a chance to play in the World Cup qualifiers.
He said, “Things have changed for the
Eagles since Keshi took over; he has given more opportunities to the
home-based players since taking over the team.
“Interestingly, the home-based players
he brought into the team are going abroad to play professional
football.If you’re good, the coach calls you; if you prove yourself, the
big clubs will come for you.”
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