Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, remains focused on Tuesday’s key World Cup qualifying match against South Africa in Bloemfontein, despite FIFA yet to act on the ineligible player South Africa fielded against Lesotho last March.
Chelle’s priority is ensuring Nigeria secures a victory to keep alive their bid for a Group C ticket to next year’s FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Speaking at a pre-match media briefing on Monday, the Franco-Mali-born coach insisted that his team is ready to deliver a strong performance, even in the absence of star striker Victor Osimhen, who suffered an injury during Nigeria’s weekend clash with Rwanda in Uyo.
“This is a big game, I am really happy to play this game, like my players,” Chelle said. “This is the moment to do a great game against a very good team with a lot of good players.”
Acknowledging Osimhen’s importance, Chelle expressed confidence in his squad’s depth. “Osimhen is a big star, a very good player, but I also have a big group and they want to play a great game,” he added.
Chelle has guided the Super Eagles to seven points from their first three matches in the group and believes his team can overturn the deficit against the group leaders.
Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong echoed his coach’s optimism, assuring Nigerians that South Africa will be defeated. “South Africa is a good team that we respect but we just have to go on the pitch and play our game. Our objective has not changed; we want to go to the FIFA World Cup finals next year,” said Ekong, who was voted Man of the Competition at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Al Kholood defender, who plays in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, recalled Nigeria’s previous AFCON victory over South Africa but stressed it would not influence today’s approach. “We defeated them at the Africa Cup but that is in the past and some changes have been made to both teams since then. Our approach will be devoid of arrogance; we will play with level heads and go all out for victory. There will be no arrogance but we will not be diffident either.”
Nigeria is chasing victories in all three remaining Group C matches after recent wins over Rwanda and Benin Republic. The win against Amavubi over the weekend lifted Nigeria above Rwanda in the standings, but they remain six points behind South Africa.
South Africa, however, risks losing three points for fielding the ineligible Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho last March. Should that happen and Nigeria secure a win in Bloemfontein, both teams would be level on 10 points, keeping the World Cup qualification race wide open ahead of the final two matches in October.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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