Head coach of the Nigeria senior men’s national team, Sunday Oliseh, has called for calm as he expects his new breed of senior internationals to roll back the glory days for the country.
The Super Eagles drew goalless away to Tanzania in their second game of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Saturday and currently sits second in Group G, following Egypts 1-5 thrashing of Chad in N’Djamena on Sunday.
“I have said it over and over that I am no magician. We have to come to accept the hard fact that we are not right there at the top there, at the moment,” Oliseh is quoted as saying at a press conference on Monday.
The three-time African champions have until March next year, when they host Group G leaders Egypt who have recorded maximum points from their first two matches of the qualifiers.
In the meantime, they will be playing the Mena of Niger Republic in Port-Harcourt on Tuesday afternoon in an international friendly and Oliseh is confident the bond in the Eagles camp can bring about great achievements in future.
The game against Niger is significant as it will bear on the country’s rating in the next Fifa/ Cocacola World Rankings.
“No doubt, we have potential, and based on the unity I have seen amongst the players, and the willingness to work hard and accomplish, we will get back to the top in good time,” he said.
“We are building a new team, and patience is required. It is like starting from the scratch, because the fact is that we didn’t qualify for the last Africa Cup of Nations.
“However, I have the confidence that this group will make Nigeria proud again.”
Tuesday match kicks off at 3pm.
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