Former national team player, Friday Ekpo, has delivered a rallying call to the Super Eagles, urging them not to be disheartened by their below-par performance in the first AFCON game.
Ekpo speculated that the team’s display might be attributed to individual play or a possible underestimation of Equatorial Guinea.
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“First and foremost, I want to say that their performance in the first game was below par. Maybe because it was their first game or maybe because they underrated the Equatorial Guinea players,” Ekpo remarked.
Despite the lacklustre start, Ekpo highlighted the quality of players in the squad, emphasizing the need for improvement in the upcoming matches.
He expressed concern about the upcoming game against the host nation, anticipating a challenging encounter that would test the team’s mentality.
“I still believe that they can still improve on their next game, which is very difficult. But that next game is going to be very difficult against the host nation. So, I don’t know how they are going to go about it individually, or collectively, from the technical crew, I don’t know what kind of instruction they need to give. Because these players need to do well in their second game,” Ekpo emphasized.
Ekpo’s remarks underscore the importance of mental resilience and strategic instructions from the technical team as the Super Eagles gear up for a challenging match against the host nation.
As expectations remain high, Ekpo’s call serves as a reminder that the team possesses the talent and potential to bounce back and make a strong statement in the ongoing AFCON.
