“Learn from mistakes” – Ex-Gunner asks Super Eagles to target World Cup qualification

The Nigerian national team failed to live up to their billing at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and may need to raise their game to get past the last hurdle on the road to the Mundial

Former Arsenal and Inter Milan star Nwankwo Kanu has urged the Super Eagles to pick valuable lessons from their premature Afcon exit and utilise them when the team returns for its World Cup playoff clash against Ghana in March.

The Super Eagles raised expectations and fueled title hopes after winning their first three matches at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

But the Austin Eguavoen-led side came crashing back to earth when they lost 1-0 at the first knockout stage to a Tunisian side that had only scraped past the group stage.

The Super Eagles have been presented with a golden chance to quickly bring back joy to the heart of their teeming fans after they were drawn to face bitter rivals Ghana in the final playoff round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

1996 Olympic gold medalist Kanu is aware that securing a World Cup ticket will go a long way in helping Nigerians deal with the Afcon disappointment.

And the retired international, through his Twitter account, has charged the Eagles to stop sulking and be prepared to make the country proud again by qualifying for Qatar 2022.

Kanu tweeted: “My country people. Yeah. Super Eagles are out of #afcon21. All the same we learn from our mistakes and move on. Let’s go qualify for the World Cup. We are proud of you boys well done. That’s life and that’s football.”

The Super Eagles have qualified for six of the last seven editions of the World Cup, with their maiden appearance coming at USA ’94.