Nwankwo Kanu wants the Super Eagles to make big statement by going all out for a win in this month’s international friendly encounter against five-time world champions, Brazil, Completesports.com reports.
Gernot Rohr’s men will face the Selecao in the highly anticipated tie at the National Stadium, Singapore on October 13.
The West Africans will be up against talented stars like Neymar Jr, Roberto Firmino, Phillipe Countinho, Gabriel Jesus and others in the clash.
Kanu, a former Super Eagles captain however believes that playing kjagainst such world class players is an opportunity for the Super Eagles to prove their class.
“I see every game as a World Cup match, as a competition, friendly or no friendly. And if the boys can take that on board, knowing that every game they play, Nigerians will not want to know if it is friendly or not,” Kanu declared in an interview on the You Tube channel of the Super Eagles.
“There is a lot of pressure because everybody loves football, they don’t want to hear that Nigeria went to a game and lost.
“I don’t think people will really appreciate the boys if they lost in a friendly game, that’s how it is here. The boys have to take it on board and ensure that every game they play, they have to do well.”
Kanu, with his vast experience, knows what it takes to play a high profile game like this against world football superpowers. He was a ‘tormentor in chief’ when Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles battled star-studded Brazil side to a standstill and won 4-3 in the semifinal of the Atlanta 1996 Olympics football event. The kanu-captained side went on to pip Argentina 3-2 in the final to bag Africa’s first ever Olympic football gold medal.
Kanu added: “Against Brazil -they are one of the best, and those are the kind of friendlies we should be playing. I say thanks to whoever has made this possible.
“Playing against Brazil will show the level of football they are playing and where they are, and if they can beat Brazil, the confidence and belief of the boys will grow.
“And for me, it’s always tough when Nigeria and Brazil play each other, whoever will represent us should know it’s not a friendly game.”
By Adeboye Amosu
