Super Eagles B in Pretoria, South Africa
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Allwell Okpi
The African Nations Championship kicks off on Saturday (today) with the Super Eagles B, coached by Sunday Oliseh, hoping to win the tournament, which ends on February 7.
Hosts Rwanda face Ivory Coast in the opening game at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, while Gabon will slug it out with Morocco in the second Group A game billed for same day and same venue.
The Eagles hope to begin their CHAN campaign on a winning note on Monday when they face Niger Republic in their first Group C game.
To make it to the quarter-finals, the Eagles also need good results against Tunisia and Guinea in their other Group C games.
Unlike some teams in the tournament, Nigeria have a completely new set of players; none of the players in the Nigerian team that won bronze at the South Africa 2014 CHAN under coach Stephen Keshi, would play in Rwanda.
Gbolahan Salami, who would have been the only player from Keshi’s team to play in CHAN under Oliseh, opted out after the Christmas break to pursue a move to Europe.
With Salami, the top scorer in the Nigeria Premier League last season out, Sunshine Stars’ Tunde Adeniji, who was the second highest goal scorer, and Abia Warriors’ Chisom Chikatara, would lead the Eagles’ attack.
Paul Onobi of Sunshine Stars, who would don the number 10 jersey, Warri Wolves’ Bartholomew Ibenegbu and Ifeanyi Matthew of El Kanemi Warriors would feature in the midfield for Nigeria, while captain Chima Akas would lead the defence line.
After their training programme in Pretoria, South Africa, before they moved to Kigali on Friday, Oliseh gave an indication that the team hope to reach the final of the tournament, saying they will continue to improve their tactics until the last game of the competition.
“I can assure you that the boys are all committed and full of optimism,”Oliseh told The PUNCH on Wednesday.
Oliseh had earlier said he was “satisfied with the input and general organisation” of the team.
However, the 2016 CHAN would be the first tournament test for Oliseh, who recovered from illness and led the team to win two friendly games and draw one in Pretoria.
Coach Kadiri Ikhana, who led Enyimba to their seventh league title last season, believes Oliseh is equal to the task of leading the Eagles to win CHAN.
Ikhana told our correspondent during the week that the players Oliseh selected for CHAN were the best in the Nigerian league and that they have what it takes to win the tournament.
He said, “No team is complete, but I think we have some of the best legs in this CHAN Eagles. Looking at the list, I can say that over 80 per cent of them are recognised players, who have done very well in the league.
“I don’t expect anything less than a good performance in Rwanda. I’m sure they will perform well. Once they scale through the group stage into the quarter-finals, I believe they will go on to play in the final.”
Ikhana argued that the fact that Nigerian clubs failed at CAF competitions last season would not affect the Eagles.
“CHAN is different from CAF club competitions. The CHAN Eagles have been in camp even before the end of the league and before the end of the FA Cup. I believe the boys carried on their form into the CHAN camp and they have been playing matches. They are still very hot,” Ikhana said.
Former Nigeria defender, Yisa Shofoluwe, said he had confidence in both the players and the coaching crew.
“I believe we will win the CHAN trophy. We have a team that can beat any team in Africa. We have good players. All we need to do is to support and encourage them to go all out and put in their best so that they can win the tournament,” Shofoluwe said.
Also, former Eagles goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu, believes the team’s preparations for the tournament was adequate.
He said Oliseh can succeed with the home-based players in the same way he has done with the A-team of the Eagles.
Dosu said, “I think the Nigeria Football Federation has tried by giving them a camping site in Pretoria, South Africa, and the team played three friendly games there. Before they travelled to South Africa, they spent about two weeks in camp. Overall, I think the team is ready. The first game against Niger is very important. They have to take it game by game and do their best to get to the last game of the tournament. I believe they are in good hands with Oliseh and his assistants.
“Oliseh has been with the A-team of the Eagles and they have played about seven game under him and they did well in those games. I believe Oliseh can also do well with the B-team. He can lead the team to victory in Rwanda.”
Meanwhile, the Rwandan government announced a visa exemption for nationals of the 16 competing countries in order to attract fans.
According to the New Times newspaper, the Rwandan government spent 16 billion Rwandan francs ($21.4 million) on infrastructure and organisational costs for the tournament, which is reserved for players who play their football in their national leagues.
CAF website quoted the President of the Rwanda Football Federation, Vincent Nzamwita, as saying “We are fully ready to host this high-level competition. It is a great honour.”

“Everything had to be rebuilt, including the pitches, changing rooms and stands,” he added.