Nwosu urges home Eagles to learn from failure against South Africa

• Camp opens in Kano today

Former Super Eagles Skipper, Henry Nwosu has charged the players invited for camping in preparation for the Kenya 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers to work hard to redeem Nigeria’s image after the country’s loss to South Africa in Uyo last month.

South Africa defeated Nigeria 2-0 in an African Nations Cup qualifier played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.The home-based Eagles, who will begin camping today in Kano ahead of the qualifiers for the championship meant for players based in their domestic leagues, will meet the win of the preliminary round of the qualifiers involving Benin Republic and Togo.

According to Nwosu, the defeat by South Africa should serve as a big lesson to the CHAN Eagles in the qualifiers.He opined that African football is no respecter of any country, adding that so many of the smaller countries have produced exceptional players that ruffle the more established teams.

He charged the CHAN Eagles to fight hard and qualify for the African tourney, adding that winning the ticket would help raise awareness in the Nigerian league.

“The players should understand that there are no more small teams in Africa and qualifying for CHAN would set a good signal that the country’s football is still on track. The players should learn from their foreign counterparts’ mistakes against South Africa,” he said.Meanwhile, players invited for the CHAN qualifiers are expected to arrive in Kano this morning for the preparations, which begins this evening.

Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, told The Guardian yesterday that national team manager, Gernot Rohr will join the team in the coming weeks, adding that the logistics have been put in place to ensure the players and officials concentrate on the job of qualifying for the CHAN.