The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has stated that last weekend’s international friendly game against Mexico was specifically planned for the Super Eagles to get a tough challenge ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kenya.
The match against Mexico provided the Eagles chief coach the opportunity to try out some new players and carry out some tactics he had in stock to outwit the Harambee Stars.
NFF Technical Committee chairman, Christopher Green, said it was important the game against Mexico was played at the time it was.
“You will not leave anybody in doubt about our (NFF) preparations for competitive matches. Now we have played against Mexico; a tune-up game that would help the coach instil his philosophies as well as try new formations with the players ahead of the upcoming qualifying games against Kenya and Namibia.”
Green noted that: “Mistakes were made in the first leg in Calabar and it is only logical that the coach gets the chance to get it corrected and that was what we did with Mexico.
“It was obvious that several mistakes were made before that 1-1 draw against Kenya in Calabar and we wanted to ensure this does not happen again.
“You also know that the Eagles have not played any competitive match since that game against the Kenyans about three months ago so it is only proper that the boys integrate before they go straight into such a crucial qualifier against the Kenyans,” he said.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face the Harambee Stars in Nairobi on June 5 before proceeding to Windhoek to confront Namibia on June 12 in another World Cup qualifier.
The African champions will then round off a busy month’s programme in Brazil during the FIFA Confederations Cup from June 15 to 30.
The Super Eagles currently lead Group F of Africa zone for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying on five points from three matches.
