Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has said he expects Jordan to give his team of local league players a tough match today.
Jordan will use today’s friendly to prepare for a 2014 World Cup final playoff against Uruguay.
“Jordan has been together for a while and they play Uruguay in the World Cup playoff, so we are playing a very strong team and it would be a difficult game,” Keshi warned ahead of the first-ever clash between the two countries at this level.
Nigeria will use this match to begin preparations for next year’s CHAN in South Africa.
Keshi has handed a chance for several new comers like central midfielder Olayinka Oyeleke of promoted Crown FC to stake a claim for places in his CHAN squad.
He said he has been satisfied with the fitness level of the players.
“The performance is okay. They are really pushing hard to be there. It’s not easy, some of them are new and it’s their first time, so I expect the early panic I have seen from them,” he said.
“But in all, I am impressed at their fitness level. We will continue to do our best but it’s just that the time is too short for us to do anything before the Jordan game.”
Nigeria are expected to open training camp for CHAN in December.
They are drawn against hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in the first round of the tournament strictly for players featuring in their various local leagues in Africa.
Culled from Vanguardngr
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