Former Nigeria goalkeeper Alloy Agu has raised alarm that the Super Eagles have lost the fear factor which made them a dreaded side in the African continent.
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Agu insists that unless this is restored by way of the senior national team raising its game, there is the danger of the country being left behind in the pecking order of the African continent’s football rungs.
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The 47-year-old U-23 Dream Team VI goalkeeper trainer reckons that Nigeria must learn from its failure to qualify for the concluded 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea and start early preparation for the 2017 edition of the African biggest soccer showpiece.
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“Football these days has gone beyond the big names. Only discipline and good tactics win matches these days. We need to learn that African teams have improved a lot unlike 20 years ago when Nigeria would run countries down easily,” Agu stressed.
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He continued: “We must prepare well ahead of the next AFCON, we should plan well and give our best regardless of the opposition. The game in the continent at the moment has gone beyond big names.
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“We must admit that no team fears you anymore because every team in the continent has continued to raise their game and the earlier we realised this and push forward, the better for us.”
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Irrespective of the ex-international goalkeeper’s concern, he still remained confidence positive days still hang on the horizon for Nigeria football.
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”We must stand up and take what belongs to us, take every game like it’s a cup final.We must not underrate any side.
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“This way, we will not only qualify for the next AFCON but as well do well in the competition”, he told footballlive.ng.
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