Cape Verde Match A ‘Must-Win’ – Super Eagles Captain
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa insists the final Group C World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde is a “must-win”, despite needing only a draw to qualify to the next round.
The Super Eagles touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 7.30am on Sunday and the three-time African champions were immediately driven to the Eko Hotel. They had a gym session in the evening, ahead of a full training session on Monday at the match venue, the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The 2-0 victory against Liberia in Tangier meant the Super Eagles have won all their away matches in the qualifying series, and need only a draw against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on Tuesday to progress into the final knockout round of African series for Qatar 2022. The final round of the African qualifying series will hold in March 2022.
“No one is thinking of a draw. It is a must-win match, as far as we are concerned,” Musa, who won a record 102 caps for Nigeria after coming on as a substitute in Saturday’s triumph against Liberia, said.
“The mindset is to win and reach the final round of the World Cup series without any story.”
A victory or draw against the Cape Verde will send the Super Eagles to the next round of the qualifier. Nigeria are on 12 points in Group C, while Cape Verde are on 10 points.
Senegal, Egypt, Mali, Morocco and DR Congo have already qualified for the final round, with African champions Algeria expected to have no trouble doing the same.
Chidi Nwoke/PUNCH.
