Interim manager Augustine Eguavoen has declared that Nigeria’s Super Eagles are ready and raring to go for all six points available in this month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against their counterparts from Benin Republic and Rwanda.
The reigning African vice champions clash with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Uyo on Saturday, September 7, and then keep a date with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali three days later.
He said: “Our objective is clear: to pick the six points in both matches. The players know this and are committed to accomplishing this.
“The matches will not be easy; no qualifying game can be taken for granted because all the teams want to play in the finals. However, we have spoken to the players, and all of us are on the same page.
“Starting with the match against Benin Republic on Saturday, nobody is mentioning anything about revenge. Our goal is three points, and then we aim for another three points in Kigali on Tuesday that will put us in good stead for qualification.”
Eguavoen has a number of stalwarts who are truly determined to appease fans and enthusiasts for missing the two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in June, from which poor results threaten the Eagles’ chances of reaching the 2026 finals.
AFCON’s Man-of-the-Competition, William Ekong, also team captain, was overlooked for the ties against South Africa and Benin Republic as he was recovering from injury, but is back at the heart of the rearguard to lead the three-time African champions to hunt for points for another showpiece.
Early in the year, Ekong scored three goals at the AFCON finals.
Reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen missed the two games in June as defender Ola Aina and star forward Moses Simon due to injury.
Osimhen just signed for Turkish giants Galatasaray and will be keen to impress his new employers while banishing talks of his rustiness.
Rapid-raider Simon, who can single-handedly decimate the opposition on a good day, is eager to once again don the green-white-green uniform, much like Aina.
Eguavoen is most likely to start goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, with Aina, Semi Ajayi, Ekong, and Bassey at the rear, and any three of Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Alhassan Yusuf, and Raphael Onyedika in midfield.
Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface, and Ademola Lookman are gunning for shirts at the front.
Lookman, in the list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or, will walk with a greater spring in his steps, and justifiably so.
He scored three crucial goals for Nigeria at the AFCON, and his 17 goals and 11 assists steered Atalanta FC to the Europa Cup final, where his hat-trick did the damage to German club Bayer Leverkusen.
Saturday’s match will kick off at 5 p.m. inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
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