Former Super Eagles Goalkeepers' Trainer, Ike Shorunmu, has warned Nigerians against weighing down the national team psychologically before the 2018 World Cup Group B qualifiers. Shorunmu believes that overhyping Super Eagles' opponents, Zambia, Algeria and Cameroun, could work create panic in the team during the campaign.
The Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup star believes the Nigerian team has the wherewithal to qualify for the championship, adding, however, that the young team needs psychological boost to confront their opponents.
He urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to start early preparations for the team, saying much work still needed to be put in place to revamp the Eagles.
According to Shorunmu, in modern day African football, what determines the success of a team is the ability to select the best players and blending them together before the qualifiers.
He wondered why some people were writing off the Super Eagles before the qualifiers, stressing that the success of any team in the group depends on the level of commitment and technical competence displayed during every encounter.