eberyevery.ng Nig. vs Ben. Rep. AFCON
AFCON 2021 Qualifier matches kick off tomorrow Wednesday with Nigeria hosting Benin Republic in Group L. The Group L houses Lusetho, Benin Republic, Sierra Leona and Nigeria with Nigeria looking favorite to top the group.
Nigeria will battle the Benin Republic team in the opening group game in the famous Uyo Stadium. Many players have already resumed the Eagles Camp. Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, is already in camp, ahead of their 2021 AFCON qualifier on Wednesday.
The captain missed the friendly match against Brazil, but he has arrived in Uyo, along with Iwobi, Ndidi, Maduka Okoye, Jamilu Collins, and Ramon Azeez. Also in camp, are, Chidozie Awaziem, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Kenneth Omeruo, Samuel Kalu and Ikechukwu Ezenwa. Brian Idowu has withdrawn from the game, because of passport issues and replaced with Enyimba’s Ifeanyi Anaemena.
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Super Eagles’ head coach, Gernot Rohr, has approached Queens Park Rangers midfielder, Eberechi Eze to play for Nigeria over England. Eze, who was born in England, is eligible to represent the Three Lions and also Nigeria. The 21-year-old has scored six goals and registered four assists for QPR in the Championship so far this season.
“We have approached him, but not directly. Tunde Adelakun, my assistant, spoke to his mum,” Rohr was quoted by Allnigeriasoccer as saying. “What we understand is that there is a lot of pressure on him and Ebere Eze doesn’t want to give an answer now. Obviously, we would love to have him in the Super Eagles, of course! We continue to work on getting him. It may take some time”.
Samuel Kalu: We will push harder and not be carried away by the previous tournament we played in Egypt this time around. The fans should be expecting victory from us because, in our group, we are the favorite to qualify but we would not underrate any country, Kalu told Brila
Super Eagles will take on the Benin Republic on Wednesday the 13th of November at the Nest of Champions, Uyo.
Nigeria is back in competitive action for the first time since their third-placed finish at the 2019 AFCON. They start their qualifying campaign for the 2021 AFCON with a home game against Benin, before traveling to Lesotho four days after.
Nigeria has been doing great in all of its international friendlies including a 1-1 draw against Brazil. Coach Gernot Rohr has named a 23-man squad for the double-header of matches and has recalled Ahmed Musa and Daniel Akpeyi. Also, Samuel Kalu, Mikel Agu and Kenneth Omeruo have recalled o the team.
Benin Republic starts its 2021 AFCON qualifying campaign with a trip to Nigeria who is favorite to top the group. They then play host Sierra Leone on Sunday in their second match of the campaign.
The Squirrels had their best ever performance at an Africa Cup of Nations tournament earlier this year in Egypt. They reached the quarter-finals before losing to Senegal by a goal to nil. Benin progressed through the group stage without losing a game and winning famous Morocco on penalties in the round of 16.
Coach Michel Dussuyer has named only 14 players who featured at the AFCON finals in the summer, but notable key players Stephane Sessegnon and Steve Mounie are in the 23-man squad.
Nigeria will be striving to make a strong start to its qualifying campaign against Benin who will have gained great confidence from the 2019 AFCON tournament. Benin’s home side is a great side to reckon with but can they play well against the home side Nigeria who also did well in the AFCON 2019. The home team should have enough caliber to ensure a hard-fought and a narrow win at the end of the day.