Sports facilities expert and Monimichelle Sports CEO Ebi Egbe has raised questions over the Super Eagles’ preparation for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar, insisting that Nigeria must prepare for the specific playing conditions they will encounter rather than depend solely on the quality of their Europe-based stars.

Nigeria will open their qualifying campaign against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 25, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.

But for Egbe, assembling talented players is only one part of preparing properly for an international fixture.

“The key issue is not simply whether Nigeria has talented footballers. It is whether the coaching and technical teams have adequately prepared those footballers for the actual match conditions,” Egbe said.

Speaking from his experience as a professional groundsman, Egbe argued that footballers accustomed to carefully maintained European pitches can encounter different technical and physical demands when playing on surfaces where ball movement, traction, levels and bounce may differ.

He stressed that his argument should not be interpreted to mean Europe-based players are incapable of performing effectively in African conditions.

Instead, Egbe believes the coaching staff must ensure their preparation takes account of the environment in which matches will actually be played.

“A player performing exceptionally well on a carefully maintained European pitch may face a different technical and physical challenge on an African playing surface with inconsistent ball roll, uneven levels, variable traction or unpredictable ball bounce,” he said.

Head coach Éric Chelle has selected a squad featuring established Europe-based players including Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon for the opening qualifiers.

For Egbe, however, individual quality should be complemented by preparation tailored to the conditions.

His question ahead of Madagascar is therefore straightforward: are the Super Eagles merely assembling their best players, or preparing those players for the exact environment in which Nigeria’s AFCON campaign will begin?

Nigerian Army troops arrested 47 suspected criminals, rescued several kidnapped victims and killed a suspected terrorist in nationwide operations in the last 24 hours.

The troops also recovered suspected stolen and rustled livestock, detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) and disrupted criminal activities across Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Plateau, Anambra, Imo and Kaduna states.

An operational report released on Saturday said troops of Operation MESA arrested the 47 suspects during a raid in Nasarawa State.

The report said troops of the 177 Guards Battalion, in conjunction with the State Security Service (SSS), police, and a civilian joint task force, raided suspected criminal hideouts at Tipper Garage and Gidan Drama in Karu Local Government Area of the state.

It said the troops recovered two motorcycles, an unspecified quantity of suspected cannabis, 32 mobile phones, a laptop and charger, four wristwatches, five power banks and an ATM card.

According to the report, the troops handed over the suspects and recovered items to the police division in Karu for further investigation.

In Zamfara, the report said the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued three civilians who sustained gunshot wounds after engaging terrorists along the Dampo-Rumba Road in Bakura Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Bakura for medical attention.

According to the report, troops responding to a kidnapping incident along the Dandume-Damari Road in Katsina also engaged the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their victims and flee.

“The troops recovered one vehicle during the operation.

“Similarly, troops responding to terrorist activities along the Isa-Girnashe Road in Sokoto rescued two kidnapped victims after engaging the terrorists.

“One of the victims, however, was confirmed dead from gunshot wounds.

“The troops also intercepted five trucks conveying 117 cows, two donkeys, one goat and five cow skins suspected to have been stolen at Magami in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara.

“The recovered livestock were handed over to the Chairman, Committee on Recovery of Rustled Cattle, Gusau, for further action.

“In another operation in Tsafe, Zamfara, troops intercepted a suspected stolen vehicle with the support of the National Security Adviser’s tracking team.

“The driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled after being intercepted, while the vehicle was recovered to the unit headquarters for further action,” it said.

In Niger, the report revealed that troops of Operation Savannah Shield discovered and safely detonated an IED along the Dekara-Gewazi Road in Borgu Local Government Area.

It added that troops of Operation Enduring Peace neutralised a suspected terrorist during an offensive operation at Ungwan Nungu in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna.

The report further revealed that troops engaged the suspects, killing one while others fled the scene.

“At Yangwari Market in Mangu Local Government Area, troops intervened after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a vehicle conveying passengers and foodstuffs.

“Eight passengers who sustained gunshot wounds were evacuated to Allah-na-Kowa Hospital, where three were confirmed dead while others received treatment,” it added.

In the South-East, the report said the troops of Operation Udo Ka arrested suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) during offensive operations along the Azia-Uli-Okija axis.

It added that three suspects were apprehended while attempting to escape through Orsu-Ihiteukwa in Imo, but one was killed while trying to evade arrest.

According to the report, the remaining suspects were handed over to the SSS for further action.

“Troops also arrested two suspected IPOB/ESN members at Azia, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra, following intelligence linking them with the group’s activities.

“The suspects reportedly confessed to delivering items to terrorists on two occasions and remained in military custody for further action.

“In Imo, troops conducting anti-illegal bunkering operations discovered an illegal refining site containing about 720 litres of illegally refined crude oil and 41 cooking drums at Egbema.

“All recovered items were handled in line with extant regulations,” it said. 

(NAN)