A former Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu has  advised the team’s technical crew not to underrate Cote d’Ivoire in their return leg qualifiers for the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Home-based Eagles on July 6 defeated Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna in the first leg of the qualifiers.
The Eagles, for the return leg, will meet Cote d’Ivoire this weekend in Abidjan.
Chukwu said in an interview that he expected the Eagles to improve on their standard.
He said that the Eagles have started the competition well with a stunning 4-1 performance over their Ivorian counterparts.
“It was an emphatic victory by the home-based Super Eagles over visiting Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the first match and I believe that they would do better in the return leg.
“I knew the first leg match in Kaduna was a bonus for us, but I never expected so much goals margins. The result of the first leg marveled me.
“The team had raised everyone’s hope with the first leg brilliant result and should strive not to dash Nigerians’ hope in the return leg and the subsequent matches,’’ Chukwu said.
According to him, Chief Coach Stephen Keshi has the right materials. “The Eagles only need further grooming and training to make the country proud.’’
Chukwu called on Nigerians to continue to support the national senior team in their building process because “Rome was not built in a day.’’
“I plead with Nigerian’s to cooperate with Keshi and the team, and encourage them in their own little way because it is only through their cooperation that we can get it all right.
“I recall that this is the first time we are participating in this competition and I want us to utilise it well and convert all our scoring chances to goals,’’ he added.
He said he believed and also had confidence in the players.
Chukwu added that the Eagles would make Nigerian’s proud and qualify for the Championship slated for 2014 in South Africa.
The finals of the competition will be held from January 10 to February 1 in South Africa.