U23 AFCON: Ex-Arsenal Midfielder Nwakali On Preparations, Group Opponents, Message To Nigerians

Published: November 02, 2019

Former Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali reckons that the Dream Team VII can achieve cohesion despite the fact the full composition of the players named to the 21-man U23 Africa Cup of Nations roster haven't trained together.

Nigeria U23s coach Imama Amapakabo has included fifteen foreign-based players in his squad list for the tournament in Egypt and could be without captain Azubuike Okechukwu and Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi for their opening match against Ivory Coast next Saturday.

Speaking on the team's preparations for the U23 AFCON, Nwakali said in an interview with the NFF Media team : ''I believe the team is ready but we have one mindset going to Egypt to pick up the ticket to the Olympics and I believe we can achieve that as a team with hard work.

''The tournament starts on the 8th and our first game is on the 9th, so we've got a lot of time to train as a team and I believe that we have a lot of foreign-based professionals.

''It is going to be a good game for us if we just put our mindset together, we can achieve it.''

Nwakali stressed that the Nigeria U23s are not under pressure playing their group opponents Zambia, Ivory Coast and South Africa because they are the defending champions.

''First of all, Nigeria, we are the defending champions and I believe that only that is enough confidence for us.

''Playing South Africa, Zambia and even the Ivory Coast team, they are good opponents, we are going to respect them and not underrate them but at the same time having it at the back of our minds that we are going there to achieve our aim which is going to the Olympics next year. For me I don't think there is any pressure.''

On his message to Nigerians ahead of the AFCON, Nwakali said : ''Nigeria want to win every game but this is football, at the same time we have to do what we have to do which is one thing at a time - picking the ticket to the Olympics.

''If we have to win the competition, then we are ready to do that because that is why we are going there but at the same time the first objective is to pick up the ticket to the Olympics''.

The Olympic Eagles, who arrived Cairo on Thursday evening, trained on Saturday after working out in the gym the previous day.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel