The Super Eagles are just a step away from qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and will be looking to pick all three points on Saturday.
When they take on the Republic of Benin, as much as they are hopeful, however, their opponents might prove hard nuts to crack, given their recent performances.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that leaders in Nigeria square off against the Squirrels at Porto-Novo’s Stade Charles de Gaulle in one of the Day 5 games.
The 2021 AFCON qualification series had in one of the earlier fixtures between both teams, in November 2019, seen the Squirrels shocking the Eagles.
They led with a goal inside the first five minutes at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
However, goals by Victor Osimhen and Samuel Kalu earned the Eagles all the points at stake.
Nigeria followed up with a 4-2 defeat of Lesotho in Maseru four days later to fly to the top of the pool.
But draws in their home and away duels with Sierra Leone a year later prolonged celebrations of qualification.
The Super Eagles are clear favourites in the head-to-head duel having won 12, lost one and drawn one out of the 15 games played by both teams.
But the Squirrels are currently in fine form and have a full squad for the encounter.
Michel Dussuyer’s men are on a five-game unbeaten run, having last tasted defeat against the Super Eagles in their first AFCON qualifying game in November 2019.
Their home form has also been spectacular, given they have not lost for eight years, having last tasted defeat against Algeria in 2013.
The Squirrels’ last outing at AFCON was during the 2019 edition where they crashed out of the quarter-final after a 1-0 defeat to Senegal.
Benin Republic have announced a 23-man squad to face Nigeria with Dijon goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe and Brest forward Steve Mounie making the cut.
The Squirrels currently occupy the second spot in Group L having accrued seven points from four matches played so far.
A positive result in both games will see the West African country reach the biennial African football showpiece for the fifth time.
Interestingly, all the players invited by coach Michel Dussuyer are foreign-based professionals, while captain Stephan Sessegnon, Olivier Gerdon and Rudy Gestede were omitted from the team.
Sessegnon remains without a club since the end of his spell at Turkish Super Lig outfit Genclerbirligi.
However, the 36-year-old will be in the Squirrels’ camp as a non-playing skipper to boost the morale of his teammates.
Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has also called up a lot of his foreign-based players in his squad and talked of the importance of rediscovering a winning mentality.
He said this was needed to go into the FIFA World Cup qualifying battles.
Rohr will be counting on the likes of the in-form Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze and Galatasaray’s Henry Onyekuru.
They are to produce the needed firepower on the wings and supply goals for Napoli’s Osimhen and Genk’s forward Paul Onuachu.
Highly-rated Wilfred Ndidi and Etebo Oghenekaro will provide the needed support in the midfield.
The likes of William Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Leon Balogun and Zaidu Sanusi are expected to inspire the team from the defence.
- NAN
