FORMER Super Eagles defender, Ifeanyi Udeze, has told the team’s current players that an artificial surface should not prevent them from getting a good result against Libya in next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Libya will be hosting Nigeria at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, which has an artificial turf, for their home leg of October’s double-header, and there are some concerns about the surface, with most players preferring natural grass.
Udeze, who featured 35 times for the Super Eagles and played in the 2002 and 2004 AFCONs, believes the nature of the pitch should not affect the three-time African champions.
“Yes, Libya have fixed our game for an artificial pitch but for me, that has nothing on us. Our own is just to go there and do our thing, try to get our win,” the 44-year-old former West Brom left-back said.
“So for me, I do not see that as a problem. We should just go there give out best, as long as CAF okays the pitch, it means the pitch is fit enough to host the game.
“We shouldn’t worry about that, all we need to do is just to go there and see how we will get a win or draw and the rest will be history.”
The Super Eagles currently top their AFCON qualifying group with four points from two games, while Libya are bottom with just one point.
