Nigeria’s AFCON Qualifying Campaign Off to a Positive Start
Nigeria recently faced Benin and Rwanda in their 2024 AFCON qualifying campaign, with high expectations placed on the Super Eagles after disappointing results in their World Cup qualifiers. Despite the pressure, Nigeria managed to secure four out of six points from their two fixtures, a performance that has brought some much-needed positivity back to the camp.
We spoke to former Super Eagle and Bet9ja Ambassador Victor Ikpeba ahead of the international break to hear his thoughts on the results.
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Big players breed confidence!
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, two key players for the national team, played crucial roles in these matches. As a member of the technical committee, I had the opportunity to observe the training sessions before the games, and it was clear that the players were highly motivated. With Napoli’s Osimhen and Atalanta’s Lookman in top form, the team looked ready to perform under pressure.
The first game against Benin was a must-win encounter, and Nigeria delivered a fantastic result. Despite the weight of expectations, the Super Eagles managed to secure a victory, with Lookman netting a brace and Osimhen coming off the bench to add another goal. The match ended in a 3-0 victory, and credit must go to the entire team for staying focused despite the pressure. The result not only secured the three points but also injected much-needed positivity into the atmosphere surrounding the national team.
No such thing as an easy game away in AFCON qualifying!
However, the second match against Rwanda proved to be more challenging. Rwanda, known for their defensive resilience, proved to be a tough nut to crack. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Nigeria couldn’t find a way through their stubborn defense. The match ended in a goalless draw, leaving Nigeria with four points out of a possible six. While some may view the draw as a missed opportunity, securing points against a difficult side like Rwanda is always a good result in the context of qualification.
Overall, collecting four points from two games is a solid return. Having two world class-calibre players like Lookman and Osimhen in the squad makes a significant difference, but it’s important not to overlook the contributions of other key players such as Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Boniface. These players offer depth and attacking options that could be crucial as the qualification campaign progresses. They also understand the dedication and commitment required when returning to play for their national team.
Despite the good results, there has been some turbulence behind the scenes. Augustine Eguavoen, who had been leading the team, resigned after just two games. Although Bruno Labbadia was initially expected to take over, negotiations reportedly fell through due to complications. For now, it seems too early to speculate on who will take charge of the Super Eagles on a permanent basis.
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3 Comments
by Suleiman Tunde
Yes
by Peter
My taught is that Nigeria coaches should remove this idea of key players mentality and focus on improving the mathematical and constructive style of football. Over the years
style of football has improved drastically which has included goal keepers as also a playmaker in the game.
Style of football is play the game and get the goal while Nigeria style is dispised all odd and go straight for the goal and that you do for 90 mins and get no result.
In football show your superiority, dominance and possession and this lead to good results.
My humble opinion
by Adanna Nwafor
Nice