Having completed training sessions at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are trigger-ready to take the FIFA World Cup ticket, beginning with Lesotho today.
Pooled in Group C of CAF FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria look to start strong in their first-of-ten games in a bid to earn only available ticket in the group, after missing out at Qatar2022
Bemoaning the miss at the last FIFA World Cup, stand-in Captain of the Super Eagles and defender of Kasimpasa SK in Turkiye, Kenneth Omeruo expressed how important it was for Nigeria to be in USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026 for the global football fiesta.
He also confirmed their preparedness.
“I know we didn’t qualify for the last World Cup and I know how hurt we felt as players and also as Nigerians.”
In furtherance, Omeruo looks to the future.
“But, this time we have an opportunity to rewrite that and we’ve been working hard right from preparing for the Nations Cup qualification.
“We have been training together and trying to understand ourselves and our Coach’s tactics better. We have the quality and we are ready to get the ticket.”
As the Coach looks to strengthen his side in tactics, unity and confidence, Super Eagles Manager – Jose Peseiro again re-stated his support for underfire goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho being the best hands in his camp at the moment.
“I know it’s too much pressure over the goalkeepers here, I know you don’t understand why the mistake our Goalkeeper (makes), you don’t understand more the mistakes (when) our strikers lose many chances sometimes, but it’s normal in football.
“The strikers lose chances, the midfield lose passes or sometimes, the goalkeeper do some mistakes… I believe in all the goalkeepers, I believe in Uzoho.”
Peseiro affirmed missing goalkeepers Adeleye Adebayo (played late over the weekend) and Maduka Okoye (passport problem).
Ready
Meanwhile, caretaker Coach of Lesotho, Leslie Notsi said the Uyo match was an opportunity for exposure for his players.
“There is a lot at stake for us, you know, playing against one of the best countries in the continent,” he said.
“It’s for our boys to get the exposure and I think it’s an opportunity. And, we are coming on a note that we are expecting a very tough encounter, but we are saying that with results we’ve had as a small footballing country; having played up to the final of the COSAFA Cup in Southern Africa and playing against Cote d’Ivoire where we lost 1:0, I think this game comes at the right moment where we are saying let’s fair against the best team in Africa.”
Goalkeeper and Captain of the Crocodiles (Likuena) of Lesotho, Sekhoane Moerane, says they will only respect, not fear the Eagles: “I know it’s a good team with good players, but we will not fear them, we are just going to respect them”
Playing Zimbabwe three days after Lesotho, Super Eagles Captain Omeruo said: “We’ve had two meetings and talked about it, it’s really important – we’re not playing. There are no teams that are push-overs, they’re national teams , so we have to approach them with all seriousness and try to start well.”
“The goal is to win the two games and this is the mentality we have as a team”
The match, Nigeria versus Lesotho will be Live from Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo at 1700 GMT+1, 5pm local time.
