Coach Imama Amapakabo has maintained the CHAN Eagles can qualify for next year’s tournament in Cameroon by recording a bigger win than the 4-1 Togo achieved in the first leg of their decisive playoff.
The home-based Eagles face a very difficult task of advancing to next year’s CHAN in Cameroon after the big loss to Togo in Lome last month.
Imama’s team again lost 2-1 to the same Togo team at the WAFU Nations Cup in Senegal.
“Togo won 4-1 on their home ground, nothing says we cannot do better on our home ground,” insisted the young coach.
“We have a big job at hand and I have been drumming this into the ears of the players that we cannot afford to fail.
“We have to be focused and determined.
“We must create chances and put them away because we cannot afford not to be at the CHAN.”
Imama has reinforced his team by calling up more experienced players in the NPFL like Nyima Nwagua, Ifeanyi Nweke (Kano Pillars), Destiny Ashadi (Katsina United) and Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland) to shore up the mainly U23 squad he paraded in Togo and Senegal.
The former Rangers coach was assistant to Salisu Yusuf when Nigeria reached the CHAN final in Morocco last year.
The 2020 CHAN playoff return leg will be played on Saturday in Lagos.
