Following the disappointment that trailed Nigeria’s outings against Sierra Leone in November, the country’s top football boss has talked tough ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifiers
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has revealed that the Super Eagles have been charged to take no team for granted when the qualifying rounds of the 2022 FIFA World Cup kick-off next year.
Complacency bedevilled the Gernot Rohr-led side on November 13, when the team surrendered a four-goal lead to draw 4-4 at home to the Leone Stars.
But Pinnick vowed that such a disastrous situation would not be repeated in the nearest future as the Super Eagles stars and their handlers have learnt that the best must be given to every match until the referee’s final whistle.
“We have had a few conversations with the players and technical crew since then, and I am confident this kind of complacency will not rear its head again,” the NFF boss said, as per the Guardian.
Nigeria remain top of Afcon-qualifying Group I and need a win against either Benin or Lesotho to book their ticket to Cameroon 2021.
The FIFA World Cup qualifiers kick off also in the new year, with Nigeria drawn alongside Liberia, Cape Verde, and the Central Africa Republic.
Pinnick wants the lessons picked from the games against Sierra Leone to get the Super Eagles battle-ready when the World Cup qualifying series begins.
“If we had thrashed the Leone Stars, there would have been the temptation to take Liberia, Cape Verde, and the Central Africa Republic for granted in the World Cup qualifiers. Now, we know we cannot do anything like that.
“Every game, from the first one, must be approached with the best legs, mind, and best attitude. Each of the six qualifying matches will be war, and the knock-out games will be greater war,” the former Delta FA chairman concluded.
