Omeruo reveals why Saudi Arabia friendly is ideal for Super Eagles ahead of 2023 AFCON

The Super Eagles play Saudi Arabia on Friday, and Omeruo is happy with the prospect of facing them

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo is delighted with the preparatory game against Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which starts in January next year, Soccernet reports.

Nigeria play Saudi Arabia at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao in Portugal on Friday. The game is one of the preparatory games for the three-time African champions ahead of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast next January.

The Saudis are still underachievers in football, and the best they have done was their win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

However, Super Eagles defender Omeruo believes the Asian country will be a good test for Nigeria.

“I think it’s a good step. There’s been a lot of changes in the Saudi Arabian team,” Omeruo said in the pre-match presser.

“We all saw them win one game against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, and I think it’s good for us to play these games and hopefully get one or two games before the AFCON starts.”

The draw for the 2023 AFCON took place in Abidjan on Thursday, and Nigeria was drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. Omeruo was part of the team that won it in 2013, and he would be looking to replicate that feat next year.