By Duncan Mackay
December 27 – Nigeria’s coach Shuaibu Amodu (pictured) has called for the African Cup of Nations to be moved in the football calendar so that teams have more time to prepare.
The tournament, which kicks-off in Angola on January 13, has caused controversy with many coaches of top European clubs, particularly in the English Premier League, complaining about the fact that it is held in the middle of the season and deprives some teams of top players for more than a month.
Amodu said: ”The Nations Cup timing is not helping us in Africa.”
Under FIFA rules, the clubs are only obligated to release the players for pre-tournament camping 14 days before kick off.
But that figure usually comes down to about 10 days and Amodu has called for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate the situation.
He said: ”CAF should look at it so it gives us more than two weeks to prepare because the current situation is causing difficulties for us.”
Nigeria’s squad has been badly hit by injuries and Amodu has called up a squad of 32 who will then be whittled down to 23.
Nevertheless Amodu is confident that Nigeria can lift the trophy for the first time since 1994.
He said: ”I think we can win it.
“Every coach goes into a tournament with the ambition of winning it.
“I have been given a semi-final target, but I can’t just stop there.
“We have to do our best to bring the Cup home.”
Amodu knows that he needs a good performance in the tournament to keep hold of his job for the World Cup in South Africa next year.
He said: ”The Nations Cup will be a pointer to what the World Cup will be.
“Some have said that it will determine my fate, but I am not even thinking about that.”
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