Former Super Eagles defender Ajibade Babalade has expressed his backing to the Nigerian national team who have started their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations on a winning note against Benin Republic and his favored central defensive pairings.


"First, I will say congratulations to Gernot Rohr and his team for having started the qualification well with a win in Uyo against Benin Republic and I expect victory of course against Lesotho on Sunday," Babalade who was a member of the Super Eagles team to the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal told allnigeriasoccer.com on Friday.

"Anything short of victory is bad. They should continue with the same defense that played the last friendly matches.

''Ajayi is a good defender but hasn't played lots of games with Ekong and Omeruo. However the central defenders are playing regularly for their clubs and are in good shape but we know the importance of understanding in that central defensive positions," 'Kunde' stated further.

The Super Eagles are atop Group L of the qualification campaign with three points after Sunday's hosts Lesotho played out a 1-1 with Sierra Leone in Freetown.

Izuchukwu Okosi