Ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly against Ukraine in Dnipro on Tuesday, ex-international, Friday Ekpo has appealed to the technical crew of Super Eagles not to put the newly invited players under pressure.
The new players invited by Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr are Joseph Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Emil Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany), Joshua Maja (Girondins Bordeaux, France), and Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge, Belgium).
Nigeria’s clash against Ukraine will afford the newly inited players the opportunity to prove their worth ahead of the team’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Squarells of Benin in November.
However, the former Super Eagles midfielder told Brila FM in an interview that was monitored by Soccernet.ng that playing for the senior national team is like being in a hot seat.
He also urged Nigerians and the technical crew not to use the encounter to judge the players’ performance.
“The new ones invited should not be put under pressure to get a win at all cost. Because invitation to the national team and having opportunities to play is not easy; that place is like a hot seat.”
Recall that this is the first time the players will be playing together after winning bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.