It’s hard to conclude on Eagles’ chances at Cameroun 2021, says Owolabi

It is difficult to predict how Nigeria will perform at the Cameroun 2022 African Cup of Nations because the Super Eagles, under Gernot Rohr, have been inconsistent, former international, Felix Owolabi, has said.

Nigeria is drawn in Group D alongside seven-time winners, Egypt and ‘minnows’ Sudan and Guinea-Bissau for the tournament billed to hold between January 9 and February 6, 2022 in Cameroun.

Speaking to The Guardian during the week, Owolabi said it is a tough task talking specifically about the strengths or weaknesses of the Eagles, side by side with other teams expected at the championship.

“I think for over four years, or thereabout, we have not had a standard standing team for reasons best known to the coach. For this obvious reason, it becomes absolutely very difficult to ascertain the strength of the Eagles.

“Today, they are good and at another time you begin to wonder about the same team. Not consistent at all. On paper and by calculation, anybody can close his eyes and pick Nigeria as a favourite, as well as Egypt. But on several occasions such permutations have been proved very wrong.

“But we must realise that every country going to Cameroun for next year’s Cup of Nations is a potential champion for the fact that they all qualified to reach the tournament,” he said.

“Besides, virtually every African nation today has many of its players playing in Europe, so the word underdog is no more. I believe that the pairing in the group ordinarily should favour Nigeria to qualify.

“But don’t forget what Sierra Leone came here to do surprisingly some months ago during the AFCON qualifier. Provided we do not under rate any team in Cameroun, my wish is that Nigeria will qualify along with Egypt from the group ahead of Sudan and Guinea-Bissau,” he stated.