By Izuchukwu Okosi:
Former Dolphins of Port Harcourt and Enyimba striker Victor Ezeji has urged the home-based Super Eagles gearing up for Sunday's 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Benin Republic in Cotonou to remain focused on the task at hand, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.
Ezeji who made eight appearances for the Super Eagles opines that showing respect to the Benin side and remaining humbled by the chance to represent Nigeria will bode well for the home based Eagles.
"My expectations from them for now is qualify for CHAN proper, because they will have the opportunity to really prove themselves," Ezeji told Completesportsnigeria.com.
"Like I have always said, the guys invited to the camp and eventually picked for this match should not consider themselves as the best but the luckiest who now have the opportunity to make themselves the best.
"They have to remain focused and not underrate the opposition who will be motivated playing in front of their home fans."
The match will be played at the Stade La'Amitie with the return leg holding next Saturday at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Nigeria drew bye into the plays-offs, while Benin eliminated Togo in the previous round over two legs (1-1 away and 9-8 on penalties at home) to set up the clash against Salisu Yusuf's team.
Nigeria were third place finishers at the championship in 2014 in South Africa with Stephen Keshi in charge while Sunday Oliseh led the team to the CHAN in 2016 when Rwanda hosted the continent where the Super Eagles crashed out in the group stages.
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