Chukwu okays World Cup plans for Eagles

Scheduled friendly matches for Nigeria show they are ‘in line’ for a positive 2018 World Cup outing, according to former coach Christian Chukwu.

The three-time African Champions will prepare for the global showpiece with five top profile tuneup encounters, including games against Poland and England – both placed sixth and 16th respectively in current world football ranking.

Gernot Rohr’s men begin with a tie against the White and Reds at the Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw on Friday before facing Serbia at the Hive, London on March 27.

The remaining ties are against DR Congo, the Three Lions and Czech Republic as the Super Eagles aim to navigate past their Group D foes; Argentina, Iceland and Croatia at the World Cup.

“I think they are in line; that is how to prepare for a competition like World Cup. We have to play some friendly matches to assess our team and players,” Chukwu told Goal.

“The friendly matches will help [the handlers] to know those that are in shape and that are not and also to know the lapses in the team and address them before the World Cup.

“The matches will give our players confidence so that they will not be intimidated when the World Cup comes and so we will not be afraid of any opposition, [though] we will respect them.

With the unavailability of the first choice goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme the Super Eagles are left to choose between the trio of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi and youngster Francis Uzoho.

“We have about two or three friendly matches coming, so the coach can use them to assess the goalkeepers on ground,” he said.

“He can rotate the goalkeepers in the friendly games and by the time the World Cup is nearer we will get the goalkeeper we need.

“And I believe we will do well in the World Cup.”