Super Eagles’ media officer, Toyin Ibitoye has declared that the team’s preparations for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations will commence with Tuesday’s international friendly against Uganda.
Although AFCON 2019 is billed to hold in the summer of 2019, unlike the previous schedule of early in the year for past editions, sports247.ng learnt that the Eagles’ crew want to quickly start sizing up their team.
This comes after the Eagles qualified for Cameroon 2019 with a 1-1 away to Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Saturday, and Ibitoye says the time to start working is now, as they cannot afford to toy with the ticket.
The draw at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg kept Nigeria top of Group E with 10 points and they joined hosts, Cameron as well as Madagascar, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Uganda as early qualifiers for the contest.
Ibitoye said the Eagles will need as many build-up matches as they can get to put them in shape and top quality for AFCON 2019, hence the decision to start with Tuesday’s game in Asaba.
“The game against Uganda is part of the preparations for the 2019 Nations Cup. Uganda is a strong force in African football.
“We believe that the encounter will help us to look at the lapses in the team and how to correct them.
“It will also help us to focus on getting the right mix for the Nations Cup,” Ibitoye submitted.
