Super Eagles B stand-in coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, has harped on the importance of timely preparations as Nigeria gears up for the forthcoming African Nations Championship next year.
The 2025 CHAN competition is scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from February 1 to 28 in 2025.
Nigeria secured their spot in the tournament last Saturday with a commanding 3-1 victory over Ghana in the second leg of the final qualifying round at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The first leg in Accra ended in a goalless draw, setting the stage for the Eagles B’s impressive first-half display in Uyo.
Goals from Sodiq Ismail and Nduka Junior in the first 22 minutes, followed by Rangers’ Kazeem Ogunleye’s strike in the 25th minute, sealed the win.
This qualification marks Nigeria’s return to CHAN after a six-year absence, with their last appearance in 2018.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Ogunmodede expressed optimism about the upcoming tournament and stressed the value of sustained preparation.
“We had early preparations for the qualifiers with three phases of camping,” Ogunmodede said.
“The last phase started four weeks ago in Ikenne, and that really helped us. Hopefully, we will have the same preparation for the CHAN proper.”
He added, “Obviously, there is little or nothing that will change because these boys have really proved themselves. We can only assess the videos, identify our weaknesses, and work on them.”
Ogunmodede has consistently highlighted the significance of CHAN for Nigerian football.
“Qualification would be monumental. It offers a platform to showcase local talent, raise the profile of the domestic league, and inspire the next generation of footballers,” he noted.
Despite Nigeria’s strong performances in past editions, the Super Eagles B are yet to win the tournament.
They achieved a third-place finish in 2014 in South Africa and were runners-up in 2018 after losing to hosts Morocco in the final.
