3 weeks ago
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Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Benin’s Cheetahs volition look disconnected successful a captious Group C qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup astatine the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium successful Uyo this evening, arsenic some teams aspire to unafraid a spot astatine the planetary tourney successful North America.
Benin enters the lucifer astatine the apical of the radical with 17 points, 2 up of second-placed South Africa and 3 successful beforehand of third-placed Nigeria, pursuing their 1-0 distant triumph implicit Rwanda successful Kigali connected Friday. Consequently, the Cheetahs are conscionable 1 triumph distant from guaranteeing the apical spot and achieving their first-ever qualification for the World Cup.
However, a triumph for Nigeria by 2 wide goals would spot the Super Eagles level connected points with Benin, surpassing them connected extremity difference. Should South Africa neglect to triumph their concurrent location crippled against Rwanda, Eric Chelle’s broadside would instrumentality the apical presumption and unafraid a instrumentality to the World Cup aft missing the 2022 variation successful Qatar.
The Super Eagles maintained their chances of automatic qualification with a 2-1 triumph implicit Lesotho successful Polokwane, South Africa, past Friday. Yet, the way to qualification remains uncertain arsenic they caput into this decisive fixture against astonishment radical leaders, Benin.
Ahead of this evening’s important encounter, the caput manager of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, and Captain William Troost-Ekong acknowledged that Nigeria faces a challenging brushwood against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, stating that the nationalist squad volition beryllium connected a operation of occurrence and mathematics to qualify.
During a pre-match property league yesterday astatine the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Chelle emphasised that the players’ absorption is firmly connected securing triumph successful the upcoming match.
He mentioned that helium has been moving with the players to cultivate the close mentality to antagonistic the threats posed by the Cheetahs, assuring that with the close approach, triumph is wrong reach.
Captain Troost-Ekong expressed optimism for a win, noting that the players person successfully managed immoderate fatigue from question issues by ensuring they are well-rested and prepared for the match.
He reflected connected the 2017 qualification for the 2018 World Cup, asserting that the squad volition gully connected past experiences to acceptable themselves up for success.
“It’s similar an uphill task; we are swimming against the tide, but we are going to springiness our utmost to unafraid victory,” helium stressed.
Ekong besides urged supporters to basal by the squad until the last whistle, believing that thing is impossible.
Former Super Eagles Captain Austin Eguavoen expressed confidence, stating that helium expects thing little than triumph for the Super Eagles. “I don’t cognize the scoreline, but I americium precise definite we volition win,” helium maintained.
The Cheetahs, present managed by erstwhile Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr, person enjoyed a commendable run arsenic they question their maiden summons to the planetary finals.
Their 17 points and two-point pb mean that a gully successful Uyo tonight, alongside South Africa failing to decision Rwanda astatine Mbombela, volition unafraid their imagination of World Cup qualification.
In contrast, Nigeria is aiming for a seventh quality astatine the FIFA World Cup, having reached the Round of 16 successful 3 of their erstwhile appearances. Nigeria has not missed consecutive FIFA World Cup finals since archetypal qualifying successful 1994. and the halfway of the contiguous Squad understands that this whitethorn beryllium their lone accidental to basal connected football’s grandest stage.
Of the 21 players successful the Super Eagles’ campy for today’s match, lone Captain William Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, and Alex Iwobi featured astatine the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. In contrast, the likes of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Frank Onyeka, Akor Adams, Raphael Onyedika, Simon Moses, Samuel Chukwueze, and respective others person yet to acquisition the FIFA World Cup finals.
Both teams volition beryllium missing cardinal players connected Tuesday. Benin’s cardinal defender Yohan Roche and antiaircraft midfielder Sessi d’Almeida are suspended. Similarly, Nigeria volition beryllium without Africa Player of the Year Lookman, Olaoluwa Aina, and Bright Osayi-Samuel owed to injuries. A two-goal triumph for the Super Eagles, combined with a nonaccomplishment by South Africa to triumph against Rwanda successful Nelspruit, would gain Nigeria an automatic summons to the 23rd FIFA World Cup finals successful the USA, Canada, and Mexico adjacent summer.
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