Udeze warns Super Eagles not to take Tanzania lightly. Former Nigeria defender Ifeanyi Udeze has told the three-time African champions to guard against complacency ahead of Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Taifa Stars in Uyo, warning that the visitors will make life difficult for Eric Chelle’s side.
Udeze, a 2002 World Cup defender and AFCON bronze medallist in 2002 and 2004, spoke on BRILA FM as the Super Eagles count down to the Group L matchday three fixture at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Tanzania sit bottom of the group with one point from two games, but Udeze insists the table tells only half the story.
Udeze warns Super Eagles: “It won’t be easy against Tanzania”
“It won’t be easy against Tanzania,” Udeze said. “It will be tough and I hope they will not underrate Tanzania.”
The warning lands the morning after Tanzania’s own camp sent a defiant message of its own, with federation director Almasi Kasongo insisting the Taifa Stars are not scared of Nigeria and have come to Uyo to fight for a result. Chelle’s men are favourites on paper, but they are still finding their feet after a 2-1 win over Madagascar was followed by a 3-0 defeat in Guinea-Bissau.
Udeze was also unhappy with Nigeria’s own preparations, with several invited players yet to report to camp two days after it opened.
Late arrivals frustrate the former defender
“What is painful to me is that some players are yet to arrive camp, with such attitude how are we sure they are taking this game serious,” Udeze said. “I just wish them all the best and hope they get the three points.”
Only 17 of Chelle’s 24-man squad trained at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Tuesday evening. Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Moses Usor, Bruno Onyemaechi, Abdullahi Bewene and first-time invitee Mubarak Suleiman were still to arrive, with flight scheduling problems at the Victor Attah International Airport blamed for the delays.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was dropped from the squad entirely after repeated late reporting — a wider worry among supporters that the players do not always treat national duty with the urgency it deserves.
The fitness picture adds to Chelle’s headache. Hull City defender Semi Ajayi is a doubt for Friday after he was substituted with a knock in the 69th minute of last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal. Ajayi has travelled to Uyo and reported for duty, but his availability for the starting eleven remains uncertain.
Ajayi a doubt as Osimhen and Chukwueze sit out
Nigeria are already without their two most dangerous attackers. Victor Osimhen is out after knee surgery, while Samuel Chukwueze is sidelined following hip surgery in London, leaving Chelle to share the goalscoring burden between Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, Taiwo Awoniyi and Akor Adams.
Nigeria sit second in Group L on three points, three behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, while Tanzania have one point after a 2-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau and a 1-1 draw with Madagascar. As co-hosts of the 2027 tournament, the Taifa Stars are already guaranteed a place at the finals — dangerous opponents with nothing to lose. The first leg kicks off at 5pm WAT on Friday, 13 November, in Uyo, with the return fixture on Tuesday, 17 November, at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar. For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0, Ei’eke) — collage by SportsBuddy
