Nigeria captain Ikechukwu Ezenwa has warned
against complacency as they seek to shed an underachievers tag at African
Nations Championship (CHAN) tournaments.
Considered
one of the favourites for the 2018 title in the competition for home-based
stars, Nigeria were placed in Group C with Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria
failed to qualify for the first two of four previous tournaments, then finished
third in 2014 before making a shock exit after the first round last year.
Many
Nigerian supporters believe the country will coast to a top-two group finish in
January and secure a quarter-finals slot, but Ezenwa is wary of their rivals.
“Libya must
be respected as they have been CHAN champions while Rwanda lost narrowly to
eventual winners the Democratic Republic of Congo in the quarter-finals last
year,” he warned.
“Many of the
Equatorial Guinea team will have experience of playing World Cup and Africa Cup
of Nations qualifiers so we dare not underestimate them either.”
Nigeria
debut against Rwanda, face Libya in a match likely to decide first place and
finish against bottom seeds Equatorial Guinea.
Home
advantage and a strong domestic league are reasons why hosts Morocco should go
far when they host a senior Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament
for the first time since 1988.
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