Former Super Eagles winger, Garba ‘Chindo’ Lawal has advocated for the Nigerian national team coach, Gernot Rohr to line out his full array of key players in next month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations last qualifier against Seychelles, sports247.ng reports.
Although the match is a formality, as Nigeria have already qualified for the competition in Egypt, Lawal believes it would be an ideal way to kick-start preparations for the continental soccer showpiece by having all the key players available for the March 23 game in Asaba.
Lawal, who was part of Nigeria’s historic winning squad at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA and scored one of the goals in a 3-2 win against Spain at the France ’98 World Cup, stressed that Rohr has to start ensuring that his players play together at every point in time.
He reckoned further that, though the game with Seychelles is a dead rubber match and will hold on Nigeria’s home soil, it should be used to weigh the quality of the players in coming back for the first time since a long break after their last match.
The former Roda JC Kerkrade of Holland star further argued that all the key players should also be used for the international friendly against Egypt, also billed for Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on March 26, as yet another step forwardm to commence full blending of the squad.
“I don’t fancy a situation in which we start trying new players and experimenting so close to the Cup of Nations,” Lawal pointed out.
“We need to start blending the team, we need to get them all involved riht away. That’s why I want all the key players to be invited next month.”
