Adepoju cautions Eagles against distraction

Former Super Eagles player, Mutiu Adepoju, on Monday said that the Super Eagles should not be distracted by Zambia’s poor results ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Eagles are pitted in Group C alongside the defending champions, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. The Chipolopolo have lost three consecutive international friendly matches in their build-up to the tournament against Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and recently to Angola.

Adepoju told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that every opposition at the Nations Cup would be tough, saying that Zambia’s defeats were in mere friendly encounters and should not be taken for granted.

“Zambia are a good side, they are the defending champions and the Eagles should not be swayed by the strings of defeats they’ve suffered in their friendly matches. Every opposition would be tough and what I expect from the Super Eagles is to concentrate on their own build-up and avoid distractions,” Adepoju said.

He expressed the hope that the team could win the Nations Cup because they had what it takes to emerge as champions of Africa.

He said, “Anything is possible. We should be preparing to win because we have the capacity to win. We have won it twice and that makes us a worthy contender. We have to keep building and keep working hard to achieve that and I believe the players we have can do us proud.”

Nigeria last won the Nations Cup in 1994 in Tunisia with the present coach, Stephen Keshi, as the captain of the side.