Read Buhari’s Heart-Warming Message To Super Eagles Ahead Of CHAN Opener (PHOTOS)

With coach Sunday Oliseh getting ready to face his first real test in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a move to ensure a perfect start in the tournament has been implemented.

This comes on the heels of reports that Barr. Solomon Dalung, the minister of Youth and Sports, Amaju Pinnick, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwunmi, the NFF vice president 1, Shehu Dikko, the NFF vice president 2, amongst a host of top NFF officials have arrived Rwanda and will be in the stands today, January 18, when the Super Eagles take Mena of Niger.

The high-powered Nigeria delegation arrived in Kigali on Sunday, January 17, and had dinner with the players and officials of the Super Eagles at the Hills View Hotel, where Dalung delivered the message of President Muhammadu Buhari to the group.

READ ALSO: CHAN 2016: Shirt Numbers For Super Eagles Stars Revealed

Dalung told the players and officials of the Super Eagles: “I want to assure you that Government and people of Nigeria are with you as you start this campaign for honours. President Buhari has mandated me to tell me that you should confront all challenges with courage and confidence because he is with you in spirit.

“You have shown excellent patriotic spirit and we are proud of you. Go to battle with the mind to conquer.”

READ ALSO: CHAN 2016: My Players Are Not Ready – Oliseh

Sport minister Dalung, NFF president Pinnick, NFF vice president Akinwunmi host Super Eagles before CHAN opener against Mena of Niger

NFF president Pinnick, addressing Super Eagles before CHAN opener against Mena of Niger

NFF president Pinnick, addressing Super Eagles before CHAN opener against Mena of Niger

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are appearing for their second CHAN after they debuted at the tournament reserved for players featuring in their home leagues.

The team finished 3rd in the last edition and will be hoping to do better next year when the 2016 edition will be staged in Rwanda.

Nigeria has been drawn alongside Niger, Tunisia and Guinea. The competition kicks off on January 16, 2016 in Kigali.

The creation of the African Nations Championship was a response to the desire to revive or strengthen national competitions regularly weakened by a mass exodus of top players who leave their home countries to play for foreign teams which will pay more and get them more media coverage.

It is believed that there is pressure on coach Oliseh in his first full tournament in charge of the national team which he took charge of in July 2015.

However, Nigeria perfected strategies for the three-week championship at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, where they spent two weeks, and will start as tournament favourites being the top–ranked team from the last competition present in Rwanda.

The Super Eagles B clash with the Mena in one of the opening matches of Group C of the 4^th African Nations Championship. Venue is the Stade Regional Nyamirambo, from 5pm Nigeria time.

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