NFF’s CHAN target: Oliseh banks on Salami, others

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On Monday, the 26 home-based players invited by Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh, will report to camp in Abuja to begin preparations for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN), holding from January 16 to February 7 in Rwanda.

With Nigeria ranked 66th in the world and 14th in Africa by FIFA, Oliseh has made it clear that he wants to win CHAN to boost Nigeria’s ranking ahead of the draw for the final phase of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

But beyond seeking a friendly World Cup qualifiers draw, Oliseh will aim at meeting the CHAN target set by the Nigeria Football Federation and consolidate his position as the national coach.

Though, the NFF president, AmajuPinnick, has clarified that winning CHAN is not a condition for Oliseh’s employment, he has also been quoted as saying the federation wants Oliseh’s team to do better than the team that was coached Stephen Keshi, which finished third at the 2014 CHAN that was held in South Africa.

“The last time, the team got to the semi-final and finished third. We want to go the extra mile this time and win it,” Pinnick said.

The NFF have also expressed concerns over the Eagles’ difficulty in scoring goals, a flaw Oliseh seems determined to correct with the home-based Eagles.

Inviting the highest goal scorer in the 2014/2015 season of the Nigeria Professional Football League, Warri Wolves’ Gbolahan Salami, and other prolific strikers including Tunde Adeniji of Sunshine Stars, Chisom Chikatara of Abia Warriors and Bright Onyedikachi of FC IfeanyiUbah, shows Oliseh aims at assembling a high-scoring 23-man squad for CHAN.

With the likes of Paul Onobi of Sunshine Stars, Ifeanyi Mathew of El-Kanemi Warriors, Bature Yaro of Nasarawa United and Warri Wolves’ Bartholomew Ibenegbu in midfield, and the likes of Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers); Austin Oboroakpo (Warri Wolves); JamiuAlimi (Shooting Stars); Chima Akas (Sharks FC) and Chris Madaki (Giwa FC) in defence, the list has some of the best players in the Nigerian league.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, believes these players can win the 2016 CHAN, if they cooperate with the coaches.

Shorunmu told our correspondent that he believes that the players, who were invited by Oliseh, have what it takes to represent Nigeria well in Rwanda.

“The list of the players who were invited to camp for CHAN is encouraging. I believe the team will do well, provided they will cooperate with the coaches and give the coaches what they are looking for.”

He added that the fact that Nigerian clubs crashed out early in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup last season, will not affect Nigeria’s chances of winning CHAN because “the coach has picked the best players from various clubs in the country.”

On Eagles’ goal-scoring problems, former Golden Eaglets coach, Henry Nwosu, said Oliseh can bank on Salami, Adeniji and some other home-based strikers.

“The home-based strikers might prove to be better goal scorers than their overseas-based counterparts because they are hungry and eager to prove themselves and showcase their talents,” Nwosu said.

“I believe they can be the solution to our goal-scoring problem and they will use CHAN to showcase what they can do and expose themselves to the world.”

On his part, former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde said he expects the best from the invited players and believes the national team coaches know what they are doing.

“The coaches are in charge. They know what they want; they know how they want the team to play. It is their responsibility to choose the players they want to use. As a patriotic Nigerian, I’m expecting the best for the country,” he said.

Nigeria are in Group C alongside Niger Republic, Tunisia and Guinea, with their group matches scheduled for the Stade Regional Nyamirambo in Kigali.

Source: Punch