Former Nigeria international Mobi Oparaku has urged everyone connected to the Super Eagles to ensure the team is fully prepared ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled to begin in September.
Speaking on Nigeria’s qualification campaign, Oparaku warned against repeating the mistakes that damaged the country’s FIFA World Cup qualification hopes.
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“The team must start strongly this time,” Oparaku said.
According to the former Super Eagles defender, Nigeria cannot afford another poor beginning before attempting to recover later in the campaign.
“It won’t make sense to wake up late again,” he implied.
Oparaku stressed that the Super Eagles must approach the qualifiers aggressively from the opening fixture.
“They need to be on the front foot immediately,” he noted.
The former international explained that early momentum could become crucial in determining whether Nigeria qualifies comfortably or struggles unnecessarily.
“Strong starts change everything,” he added.
Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualification disappointment continues to influence discussions around the national team’s mentality and preparation.
“The lessons must be learned quickly,” many football observers believe.
Oparaku remains convinced that the Super Eagles possess enough quality to succeed if the preparation and mentality improve significantly.
“The talent is not the problem,” he stressed.
For the former Super Eagles star, the message is clear.
Prepare properly.
Start the qualifiers aggressively.
And avoid chasing qualification too late.
Because successful qualification campaigns are usually built on consistency from the very first match.
