Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has stressed that Chad will not be handled with kid’s gloves in their quaification match for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Gabon 2017 Group G opener scheduled for 13 June 2015 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.
Although anked 129 places below Nigeria (43) in the latest FIFA rankings, Chad (172) will be taken as seriuosly as any other contender, Keshi stated.
Reappointed last month after signing a two-year contract, this is Keshi’s third time on the job.
He won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on his first tenure but his contract was not renewed after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where the Super Eagles failed to progress beyond the Round of 16.
Speaking further on the forthcoming tournament, Keshi admitted to being wiser following the Super Eagles’ humiliating 3-2 home loss to Congo in their 2015 AFCON qualifier opener, which largely contributed to their not being able to defend their crown in Equatorial Guinea.
On the upcoming fixtures, the 2013 'African Coach of the Year' said the Super Eagles would have to work their luck in a campaign that also includes Egypt and Tanzania, adding that the rule of success for his new team is "focus, unity and discipline".