Abuja- Kashimawo Laloko, Assistant Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), has applauded the Super Eagles performance in their 2-0 defeat of Yemen in an international friendly match.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match played at the Seven Stadium in Dubai was a last minute arrangement following the withdrawal of Sudan.
Mfon Udoh got the Eagles’ first goal in the 25th minute before Azubuike Egwuekwe doubled it in the 64 minute to cap victory for the team.
The result meant that the Super Eagles did not leave United Arab Emirate (UAE) empty handed after the loss to Cote d’ Ivoire in their first friendly played in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 11.
Laloko told NAN in a telephone interview that the win was a consolation for the Eagles who are not defending their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title at the ongoing 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea.
“I think the NFA is going the right way with these friendlies; you can imagine if these boys continue like this, they will go places.
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“We need consistency in the team so that the boys will be mature enough to play for Nigeria in a competitive match,’’ Laloko said.
According to him, the era of using non committed foreign-based players is gone as the current home-based Super Eagles are gradually returning the country to winning ways.
“We should forget about these foreign-based players, what have they done?
“They couldn’t qualify Nigeria for the 2015 AFCON; I think we should continue using the home-based players,’’ he added.
Laloko, however, said Yemen was not a quality test for the Super Eagles but noted that it was better they played the match rather than coming back after the Sudanese withdrew. (NAN)