Following his team’s disappointing draw with Angola in a warm-up game in South Africa, Pretoria on Wednesday, January 7, coach Sunday Oliseh believes his boys are not ready for the 2016 African Nations Championship, Africanfootball.com reports.
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The Super Eagles ‘B’ team were held to 1-1 draw against Angola yesterday, January 6.
Oliseh’s boys took the lead from the penalty spot after 84 minutes through experienced Nigeria league campaigner Bartholomew Ibenegbu, before CHAN-bound Angola drew level four minutes later.
Oliseh says his players are not ready for CHAN 2016
Oliseh had this to say after the game: “I am happy with the way they played, but we’re not yet ready for CHAN.
“We played the game without strikers because our two top strikers (Tunde Adeniji and Chisom Chikatara) are injured and we also have to get used to the high altitude.”
According to officials, the Super Eagles will observe a rest day on Friday, January 8, before they resume training in Pretoria the following day.
They play another warm-up match against Cote d’Ivoire on Monday, January 11.
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Nigeria are appearing for their second CHAN after they debuted at the tournament reserved for players featuring in their home leagues.
The team finished 3rd in the last edition and will be hoping to do better next year when the 2016 edition will be staged in Rwanda.
Nigeria are drawn alongside Niger, Tunisia and Guinea. The competition kicks off on January 16, 2016 in Kigali.
The creation of the African Nations Championship was a response to the desire to revive or strengthen national competitions regularly weakened by a mass exodus of top players who leave their home countries to play for foreign teams which will pay more and get them more media coverage.
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