2023 AFCON Qualifier: Super Eagles to face Sao Tome on Sunday

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ final match in the AFCON-qualifier contest is set to hold with the lowest scorer in their group (Group A), Sao Tome e Principe.

The match will hold in Nigeria at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, the home field of Akwa United. A loss in this match would be a fat blow, while a win would mean instant qualification.

The governing body of football in Nigeria signed a new contract with Coach Jose Pereira on Sunday, in an attempt to maintain the country’s lead in the competition. The manager’s performance has been largely applauded so far, but it seems Nigeria is not yet fit to deal with countries like Argentina, Spain, England, and other teams who are famous in the world of football.

After Nigeria’s loss to Ghana which temporarily ended their FIFA World Cup ambition, it was very clear that the Super Eagles needed more than international players. They needed a better team and improved management.

How the Super Eagles lost important matches has kindled a volume of reluctance in the minds of the citizenry when it comes to watching them play.

Few recently watched women’s football, but the past noise following the exploits of the Nigerian Super Falcons at the just concluded FIFA WWC showed that the citizenry was prepared to watch anything that brought the country glory.

In contrast, many do not care when the Nigerian Super Eagles are preparing to play, because of the famous ‘near-success syndrome’.

Coach Jose Poseiro has unveiled his team, and invited three more footballers from overseas whose forms are needed to build the team of his dream. If he brings the country to the finals or the semi-finals, it would be a change of the most-recent tradition.

After the agreement now signed between him and the NFF, his pay has been decreased from seventy thousand United States Dollars to sixty.

The reason was to enable the football federation keep their part of the deal by paying him his wages properly. Last year saw the organisation owe him a ten-month wage. In fact, his past wages are still being paid.

Below is the list of players expected to play on the Super Eagles’ side:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); William Ekong (PAOK FC, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Gift Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany).