A year after their victory in the 2013 African Cup of Nations, Stephen Keshi led the Nigeria team to the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2014) in South Africa. Despite a somewhat mixed first round, the Super Eagles demonstrated their potential to secure another title after CAN 2013. In the upcoming match against the Atlas Lions of Morocco for a spot in the semi-final of the competition reserved for local players, the Nigerian technical staff appears confident.
Nduka Ugbade, a member of the technical staff that contributed to the U17 World Cup victory, expressed his belief that Morocco’s team, under the rule of King Mohamed VI, does not pose a significant challenge for Stephen Keshi’s team.
Ugbade stated, “The match against Morocco, I think it should not pose a big problem for Nigeria. They should be able to beat them at this level. And Nigeria’s strength increases every time it reaches the quarter-final of a competition. I see them now much more formidable and they can reach the final of the competition.”
However, he expressed some concerns about not allowing Morocco to create opportunities similar to those South Africa had against Nigeria. Ugbade emphasized the importance of defensive compactness, urging the Super Eagles to attack as a unit and defend collectively to ensure success in the upcoming match.
