Nigeria will get another shot at claiming the biggest prize in Men’s football on the continent, next year at the Africa Cup of Nations and preparation for the tournament must start now, insists former Super Eagles defender Nduka Ugbade.

Having sealed qualification for the Cup of Nations; with a game to spare, the SupernEgles will return to action this weekend for the final qualifying match, against Sao Tome and Principe.

In group A, the three-time champions also faced Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau; the latter pipped Nigeria 1-0 in a stunning result at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

Speaking on Brila FM, ahead of Sunday’s game, Ugbade urged the Super Eagles coaches to use every game, henceforth, as preparation towards next year’s tournament in Ivory Coast.

He stressed the need to start building a championship team, inviting only the very best players available, because the strongest oppositions – that have sealed their spots for the Cup of Nations – are already doing the same.

“Teams like Senegal, Cameroon, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea,  are all preparing, which means Nigeria must prepare for the AFCON with our best hands,” Ugbade said in the interview on Brila FM.

“Although we beat this team 10-nil and the match is not actually needed, let them just go to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, win the match, close up the group, then go to the Cup of Nations, and perform well.

“Remember, these players only play occasionally for the National team.”