Eagles To Play Friendlies Against Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Says NFF Boss

The Super Eagles face the Indomitable Lions in a double header in August, 2017, as they seek to qualify for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Gernot Rohr’s men currently sit top of Group B with six points from two games, after wins against Zambia and Algeria, but the NFF president says he is not giving any room for complacency in the team.

Speaking with Sun Newspapers, Pinnick explained that the friendlies are against teams that play similar football with Cameroon.

“We have reasoned that it won’t make sense playing Germany or Wales when the Super Eagles would face a physical side like Cameroon,” Pinnick said.

“So, as we speak, we have secured a friendly against Senegal and we are working on playing Cote d’Ivoire.

“These are two games that would adequately prepare us for the Cameroon games since they both play the same style of football with Cameroon.

“Our aim is to ensure that we keep the players on their toes with the two available Fifa windows.

“We had gotten two top teams in the world but we had to tell them to relax because we cannot be playing against Germany or Wales when we are preparing against Cameroon. We need to play teams that are physical and combative side as Cameroon.

“The technical committee has put their heads together and reported to me and I have to give them go ahead. We are ensuring that everything we need to do is perfected. The qualifier is not a sprint but marathon.

“It needs endurance and persistence. We need to secure the maximum point to qualify. Agreed, we have started on very good and solid footing but we must have to look beyond that and consolidate.

“I held over an hour discussion with the coach, Rohr, on Monday and he revealed some new things he wants to do. At the end of the discussion, he told me to go and relax as he would get the job done.”