Former Nigeria international, Friday Ekpo, has applauded the NFF’s choice of Mali in a friendly for the Super Eagles but faulted the selection of Luxembourg, adding that Super Eagles needed a tougher European opposition to return them to their status in Africa.
The Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday made public its plans for the senior national team to play Mali and Luxembourg in June ahead of their preparations for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
According to the plans, Mali, currently ranked 59th in the World, will play against Nigeria at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on May 27 while the Eagles will play Luxembourg in their home on June 1.
Ekpo, who was delighted over the arrangement of the friendlies by the NFF told Punch that the Eagles would do better in competition against higher-ranked teams than against those ranked below them.
Luxembourg is currently placed at 145 in the world against Nigeria’s 67th place ranking.
He said, “The NFF has done well to organise friendly matches for the Super Eagles and they should be commended for that. By then, the coach of the team should have been sorted and he will get to work.”
“I have been one of those who clamour for friendlies at every international break so that we can test players for the main team when competitions and qualifiers are to be played. Of the two opponents, Mali will give Nigeria a better opposition any day but I believe that we could have found another team apart from Luxembourg.
“The country is in Europe but it has been quite a while anybody heard from them.”
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