iheanyiigbokoFormer Super Eagles star, Mutiu Adepoju, has urged members of the home-based national team to go all out for victory in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) billed to kick off in Rwanda on Saturday. That, according to him, is the only way Nigeria can regain respect among African footballing nations.He explained that the Super Eagles’ Coach, Sunday Oliseh’s rebuilding process has helped in ensuring that only credible players were called up to play forthe country, adding that players now know they can get into the team only through hard work.Adepoju, however, wants the payers to justify the confidence the coaches reserved in them.The former Racing Santander of Spain midfielder believes there are still many talented players waiting to be discovered in the local league, saying that building a solid home-based squad will bring healthycompetition in the team.Adepoju enjoined the Super Eagles not to underrate any team at the CHAN, adding that there are no more minnows in African football.“The players should have at the back of their minds that Nigeria has not had it right since the championship started. But winning the championship should not be the only focus of Oliseh; he should also use the tournament to discover talents.“Nigeria has talented players that can make their mark in African football,” he said.Commenting on the recently held Ballon d’Or, where European and American stars dominated the awards, Adepoju said the non-recognition of Nigerian and other African players is a reflection of then levelof football in the continent.He, therefore, called on African players to work hard and raise the standard of their game if they desired to compete favorably with their counterparts from other parts of the world.
