Super Eagles assistant coach Usman Abdallah, said if Nigerian players can maintain their current club forms, the team can do well to win the Africa Cup of Nations next year in Cote d’Ivoire.
He was speaking against the back ground of the bright starts made by Super Eagles players with their clubs in early league matches of the European League.
The Super Eagles left Nigerians heart broken during the 2021 tournament in Cameroon after they raised hope with their 100 percent record in the group stages. They fell flat in the round of 16 to Tunisia who managed to win just one game in their group. As if that was not enough the team failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after being held to a 1-1 draw by the Black Stars of Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
But Abdallah believes the Eagles will return to winning ways.
“It is also a challenge for us [Super Eagles coaches] to produce a strong national team that can bring back the country’s glory days.
“Our focus is the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire and with the squad on ground, we are favourites to emerge as African champions.
“Right now, everything is working in our favour as we have a world-class squad and we cannot afford to let Nigerians down,” he told Goal.com
He said there is unity of purpose in the team and the players are working in tandem with the coach Jose Peseiro’s led technical crew to deliver results.
“We have started very well and hope that the players and coaches’ unity continue this way because the results are coming.
“We have played two matches – which we won convincingly. We are hoping to continue that way.
“Nigerians have been supportive to us and by the grace of God, we will deliver and make everyone happy.
“I can tell you that Nigeria have the best assembly of technical crew ever and we as assistants will ensure he achieves all set goals.
“He [Peseiro] has been cooperative and accommodating. Also, he is a democratic coach who listens to the view of other coaches before taking decisions.”