Chukwu wants quality friendlies for Eagles

Category: Sports Published on Friday, 22 February 2013 05:00 Written by -

Nigeria’s Ogenyi Onazi fights for the ball with Cote d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba during the 2013 AFCON quarter-final match in Rustenburg

Former Super Eagles handler Christian Chukwu has suggested top grade friendlies for the Super Eagles ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.

The Super Eagles will host the East Africans in a 2014 World Cup qualifying game at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on March 23.

Chukwu said after the Eagles emerged champions at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa the side have become the team to beat and cannot afford to enter into any contest ill-prepared.

“It’s now Super Eagles must be adequately prepared for competitions. We’re African champions, others will want to make history by doing everything to beat us.

“I think we should halt celebration over the AFCON victory and return to work immediately. We don’t have to relax. I’ll suggest we play one or two top friendlies before the encounter against Kenya on March 23,” said the former Harambee Stars coach to supersport.com.

The former Nigerian defender said if the Super Eagles do their home work very well the Harambee Stars will not pose a hard nut to crack.

“We’re not playing the Kenyans for the first time, we’ve played them severally. Kenya like any other East African side are full of energy capable of playing 120 minutes because of their altitude.

“We must not underrate them. I’m aware they just recruited a new manager. I don’t expect him to perform magic between now and the time we play them.

“I don’t see them troubling us not now that the Super Eagles are more than ever motivated and riding high after the AFCON win,” said the former Green Eagles’ captain.

Chukwu will want to see new players to further strengthen and inject competition in the team.

“Of course, there is need to bring in new players in the area that is still leaky. I think the move will further add to the competition already in place and make the team stronger”, he said.