Former Nigeria defender, Sam Sodje, has said that the Super Eagles need to work on their defending, adding that they will need a solid backline to win the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Sodje claimed that head coach, Jose Peseiro named an imbalanced Eagles squad for the AFCON tournament scheduled to hold from from January 13 to February 11 in Ivory Coast.

 

The Portuguese gaffer invited 25 players to camp to prepare the tournament, which starts in eight days.

 

The Eagles are among the favourites to qualify out of Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast for the next round and are also among those tipped to win the trophy.

 

However, former Nigerian defender, Sodje expressed concern over the team’s solidity saying the team was made up of quality players in only one position.

 

“We are going to the AFCON with an imbalance squad, we are taking too many strikers, we are lacking that creativity in the midfield, where players can pass the ball forward and create chances to win games,” Sodje said.

 

“We are going with too many side passes players, no disrespect to the players, and we’ve been conceding goals left, right and centre. We should stop that because a solid defence is the benchmark to win a tournament.”

 

Sodje, who made five appearances for the Eagles, is also worried about the goalkeeping crisis in the national team.

 

“Also, it is a well-known fact the problem we have in the goalkeeping department. So, if you put all these together, there are reasons to be worried, but we are fans of the Super Eagles and we will support them,” he stated.