Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba has rated the CHAN Eagles’ preparation for their CAF African Nations Championship qualifiers against Ghana at 60 out of 100, highlighting areas for improvement despite their successful qualification.

The home-based Eagles secured a spot in the 2025 African Nations Championship with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Ghana’s Black Galaxies at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.

After a goalless draw in the first leg in Accra, the Eagles dominated the return fixture with three first-half goals.

The victory was particularly sweet for Nigeria, as it avenged previous CHAN qualification heartbreaks against Ghana in 2008 and 2022.

Speaking to Brila.net, Aiyenugba commended the thorough screening process that whittled the squad down to the best talents but emphasized the importance of further preparation.

He urged the coaching team to prioritize player cohesion and teamwork, suggesting an extended training camp to ensure the team is fully prepared for the tournament.

“I will give them 60 out of 100. They had three phases of training before selecting the best players.

Kudos to the coaches, but they need to do more. They should stick together and open the camp early before the tournament,” Aiyenugba said.

The 2025 CHAN tournament, exclusively for players in Africa’s domestic leagues, will be co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania from February 1 to 28, 2025.

Nigeria will aim to surpass their previous best finish of runner-up in 2018 by building a cohesive and consistent team capable of making a strong impact.