Football fans in Abuja have urged the Super Eagles and their crew to step up their game ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

They made the call in separate interviews on Thursday in Abuja. The fans said their performance was not satisfactory despite the 3-2 defeat of the Mozambican national team.

Bunmi Haruna, a former under-17 assistant coach, said the Eagles’ encounter with Mambas had served its purpose to test the team’s ability to face other opponents.

“Though we won the game, no one can say he or she is satisfied with the play because we had a one-man advantage for a larger period of the game, and we didn’t make it count. The positive side is, I think Frank Oyeka deserves to be in the starting lineup in the next game. The coach should pair him alongside Wilfred Indidi,” he said.

Haruna advised the coach to work on the goalkeeping department by searching for additional keepers to build up the team.

“Obviously, we have a problem in the goalkeeping area. The two goals scored by the mambas, if well analysed, are the goalkeeping errors. The goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, could have done better in this area but did not utilise the chance,” added Haruna.

Akpan Bassey, a footballer, said unless the Eagles step up their game, no fan will stick out their neck for them in the World Cup qualifying series.

“Nevertheless, let’s see what would happen as they are still having more chances to play, and I pray that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will encourage them to do better. Just three days of preparation for coach Peseiro to assemble the players, to me, that was not acceptable,” he said.

He said there was a need for the NFF to begin searching for players that could fit into the Super Eagles as the current ones retire.

Sadiq Abubakar, a businessman, attributed the poor performance of the Eagles to a lack of time for preparation. He urged the crew to create enough time for the players to play together as a team.

“It is left for the team manager to draw his plan, and he knows the best way he can effectively manage and succeed with the team, “he said.

Onumah Ejike, a footballer, said the goalkeeping position was in dire need of restructuring, adding that the coach has a lot of work to do in that direction.

“Our keeper still needs to work on his defensive organisational skills, the ability to dive to save a low shot, and to jump to parry the ball over the bar,” said Ejike.

Super Eagles will host Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo and play their second match away to Zimbabwe on November 13 and 20.

(NAN)