Soccer pundits in Lagos
have expressed optimism that the home-based Super Eagles would emerge leader in Group A at the Championship of African Nations (CHAN), scheduled for January 2014 in South Africa.
The Eagles are expected to slug it out with hosts, South Africa, Mozambique and Mali, in the group.
The pundits said that the team had the pedigree and the technical capacity to withstand any opponent in the group.
A former Eagles’ coach, Paul Hamilton, said that he had confidence in both the home-based players and their technical crew that they would make the country proud.
“The home-based Eagles have the zeal and strength to do so. The team is now a force to be reckoned with in Africa.
“The team has been dominating when it comes to football and I know the teams in our group will be watching out for them,’’ Hamilton said.
The former coach, however, urged Coach Stephen Keshi to instil discipline and dedication in the boys and play each match with zeal and determination.
“The boys should be warned against underrating any of their opponents at the group stage,’’ Hamilton said.
A former coach of the Flying Eagles, Tunde Disu, said that Nigeria was already a threat to their rivals in the group because of the country’s pedigree.
Disu added that at the moment, Nigeria was playing the finest and best football in Africa, and that would make the paired countries to plot Nigeria’s downfall.
“South Africa will be Nigeria’s rival at the group stage because over time, they have always been competing with Nigeria and will want to be hard when they both meet.
“Even with that, I am sure Nigeria will top the table at the group stage because the players possess what it takes to take the lead,’’ he said.
Disu, however, urged Keshi to strengthen the squad before the competition, so that the country could come out victorious.
A former goalkeeper-trainer of the Eagles, Joe Erico, expressed his confidence in the home-based team, saying that they have so far proved to be good in their performance.
Erico said that there was no cause for fear on how the Eagles would perform at the championship.
“The players have been doing well in the ongoing Globacom Premier League and that shows that they are in form and up to the task.