EKPO on Friday Externa

With the possibilities of the classification of the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup next year that has finally vanished with its recent 1-1 draw to South Africa, a former midfielder in the Nigerian team, on Friday EKPO has already begun to think about an revival strategy for the team.

Sports247 informs that Ekpo believes that the resurgence of the Eagles should begin with the Cup of Nations of Africa in Morocco, which will remain from December to January, hence its verdict that a new plan must be in motion for the team.

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He also considered that, since the World Cup ticket can already be beyond the Eagles, they should use the remaining matches of the qualifiers to start their AFCon preparations.

Ekpo suggested: “We should use our last two games of the World Cup qualifiers in October to see the good ones we can add.

“Once we finish with that, we can begin to invite players at home to join foreigners.”

The former creative midfielder, who was one of the stars of the Nigerian bronze winning team in Senegal ’92 AFCon, continued pointing out that there would be limited time after the last World Cup qualifying for preparations for the continental masterpiece in Morocco.

Ekpo said: “We have October/November before the competition of the Cup of Nations. Therefore, we would have less than 40 days to make this preparation, because they will still be active with their various clubs.

“Then we should invite those who are starting games for their clubs, not those who come from the bank or who enter with five minutes to the end. We should consider this and many other factors.”

He concluded with the opinion that the Eagles need a combination of new players with some of the oldest to mix vibrant youth with experience to strengthen the Eagles again.

“We should look at other players who play a good football with their clubs so we can include them. We should start bringing young players and see what they can do.

“We need a new generation of players, and we can build on them so that, at the end of 2026 in 2027, we can have fresh and younger players in the team.

“Some older ones will also be there, because we also need experience in the team. We need young people to come gradually and take over the old ones,” Ekpo presented.

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