Nigeria Football Federation has stressed that the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon was picked as the next Super Eagles opponent during next month’s international friendly fixed for Austria.
The Super Eagles will begin hostilities for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Group C alongside Liberia, Cape Verde, and the Central Africa Republic in September and the NFF has arranged a test game with the 2017 AFCON Champions in June to keep the team busy and in top shape for the qualifiers.
The NFF President, Amaju Pinnick said that Cameroon was arrived at after a painstaking analysis of likely opponents and that the Indomitable Lions were the preferred choice based on their antecedents and the respect they presently command among the comity of nations.
“I think the Option of Cameroon balls down to Grade A friendly as I have said and Cameroon is one of the biggest African football countries,” Pinnick began in a chat with www.dasportstainment247.com.
“They’ve got quality players and they are the first in history to have gotten to the quarter-final stage in the world Cup and have been to World Cup more than any other country in Africa and this is World Cup qualifiers we are talking about.
“We want to play top teams in Africa so when the world Cup qualifiers get tougher, we would be able to know whether the boys can match countries like Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt as far African countries are concerned because they are tough countries,” he said
“Don’t forget that Cameroon will play the Host Nation of Africa Cup of Nations come next year. We are not going into that tournament for Jamboree but we have a target and by God’s grace it is going to be a podium performance,” he added.
“The boys will assemble and the team will play in Austria. These are quite expensive flying the team alongside logistics just to give these boys quality friendly matches and as well make the team to be in shape.
“The boys already know that World Cup is a tournament every player dreams to go, so with this better preparation before September, we’ll be able to be in shape knowing fully well June/July most teams will be on break and we want them to be busy,” he revealed.
“We are still looking for more Quality friendlies so that can be sure that our team is ready for Next World Cup Qualifiers come September,” Pinnick concluded.
The Eagles will trade tackles with Liberia and Cape Verde when the second round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers resume in Africa in September.
