NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have initiated plans for the Super Eagles to play two friendly games against Italy and Ivory Coast in London next year as part of their preparations for the 2017 African Cup of Nations.
Since appointing Sunday Oliseh as head coach earlier this year, the NFF has sought to arrange a number of key friendly games for the team to help him with his rebuilding plans. Last month, the team played Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Belgium as part of this rebuilding programme.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick said that this process will continue next year as they seek to prepare the team for the African Nations Cup and the 2018 World Cup. He added that the NFF match agent has already began discussions with both teams for the friendlies which will take place during two Fifa friendly windows in the first half of the new year, at the end of March and between June 8 and 16.
Mr Pinnick said: “Nothing has been concluded yet but we wish to play reigning African champions Cote d’Ivoire in London. There is a proposal to play the Italians, who are excited about playing Nigeria after we defeated Cameroon recently.”
In March, Nigeria battle Egypt in a 2017 African Nations Cup qualifier and it is likely that one of the games will be played later that week. Calling on the Super Eagles players to continue to work hard, Mr Pinnick added that Oliseh is a hardworking and passionate Nigerian who wants the team to do well.
"We need to be total to qualify as there are no minnows in football globally and I feel the Super Eagles lack scoring, which is a global problem. We’re looking at some heavyweight coaches all over the world to assist and as you can see, our coach is very sound and I’m very proud of him.
“Another aspect that has been developed is our set pieces, the team now scores with set pieces which is very instructive, which is very good, which also can be planned into a team. I have directed our technical consultant to make sure that at every available Fifa window, we must avail ourselves in playing A-list friendly games," Mr Pinnick added.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo is set to quit Chelsea and join Kasimpasa in a permanent deal at the end of the season in June. Omeruo, 22, initially moved to the Turkish club on a season-long loan deal from the Premier League champions and has impressed during his spell.
Heralded as a future world class centreback, Omeruo has made eight appearances for Kasimpasa, who are currently sixth in the Turkish table with 20 points from 13 games. It is believed that the club ate looking to active the player’s release clause at Chelsea which is put at between £4m and £5m.
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