Harrison Jalla, the chairman of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force, says Super Eagles cannot make much impact in the 2024 African Cup of Nations(AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire due to a lack of tactical skills.

Jalla said this in Lagos on Friday that the team had lost its self-esteem, struggling to beat countries like Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

He said changes had to be made, and these changes had to be done early enough to avert a catastrophe when Nigeria would play at the AFCON 2024 in Cote d’Ivoire.

“Nothing has changed since Coach Jose Paseiro took over the Super Eagles. The team does not really lack talents both home and abroad, but what is missing is the managerial skills needed to harness its potential,” Jalla said.

He said the Eagles had not been able to secure a good coach and a manager since the death of Stephen Keshi.

Jalla stated, “Paseiro has no capacity to transform the team. He has done too much damage by his technical ineptitude. Nigeria cannot afford to carry baggage like Paseiro to the AFCON. The Super Eagles have lost their self-esteem and now struggle with countries like Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.

“Nigeria should forget about anything positive from AFCON if Paseiro is still in charge.”

He added that the solution is to build a brand new Super Eagles with home base players as its nucleus. Jalla added that a full-fledged home base Super Eagles would have defeated Lesotho and Zimbabwe hands down.

Twenty-four countries will feature at the biennial competition, which kicks off on January 13 and ends on February 11, with Nigeria drawn against host country Cote d’Ivoire.

(NAN)