BY KUNLE SOLAJA

With the arrival on Tuesday of Victor Osimhen, who with four goals is the current lead scorer in the qualifying series for the 33^rd Africa Cup of Nations, the camp of the Super Eagles is full to the brim.

Earlier, Leicester’s explosive striker, Kelechi Iheanacho who in recent two matches for his Premier League club has scored five goals as well as the ever bubbling Samuel Chukwueze of FC Villarreal hitting the camp, all the 23 players listed by Gernot Rohr have hit the camp.

Their presence was enough excitement for Rohr who looked very relaxed Tuesday morning as he entertained questions from the media.

He has assembled what could be termed ‘weapons of mass destruction’ as the Super Eagles prepare for Friday morning sea cruise to Cotonou on their mission to conquer Benin Republic in the ‘Battle of Porto Novo’ on Saturday.

Speaking with great confidence, Rohr remarked: “I’m relieved that all my players are in camp today (Tuesday) and what is left now is to commence full preparation for the two matches as we hoped to get the maximum results and at the same time we won’t underrate our opponents.”

Nigeria, with eight points sit atop the Group L, but are closely followed by their western neighbours, Benin who have seven points.

A win by either side on Saturday secures qualification for the winner thus adding flavour to what is potentially an explosive encounter.

The match holds at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo.  But both sides could secure qualification even before firing any shot if the other match in the group – a Sierra Leone versus Lesotho match – which holds earlier than the Porto Novo battle fails to produce a winner.

At the moment, Sierra Leone are with three points are condemned to win against bottom-placed Lesotho if they are to have any arithmetical chance of qualifying.

Thus, failure of Sierra Leone to pick all the three points means Nigeria and Benin will qualify even before their match slated for the same day.

That notwithstanding, Rohr said his players are not hoping for the lottery that the Sierra Leone versus Lesotho encounter potentially offers.

He remarked that his players, with their potent offensive, will approach Saturday’s match with the intention of picking all three points, no matter the result of the group’s other tie in Maseru.

“We are keen to restore a winning mentality to the group ahead of very crucial matches that we have ahead.

“It is important that we earn victories in the upcoming matches so that we get into our paces for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. There will be tough games to come and we need to be rearing to go.

“The players are ready to explode and we want to win the confidence of teaming Nigerian fans back considering the fact that we missed the chance of qualification into the final tournament with the 4-4 draw at home to Sierra Leone.

“We are ready to make up and banish the disappointment of the last matches and the best way is for every one of us to push further up in the two coming matches but for now, it’s the away match that is uppermost and we want all Nigerians to come behind us.”

The players too are getting psychologically attuned. For instance, Scottish league winner with Glasgow Rangers, Joe Aribo is keen at playing before Lagos audience.

It has been 20 years since the Super Eagles played any match of significance in Lagos. It therefore means that all the players will be having a brand new experience playing before the Lagos crowd.

Aribo said that the team is well motivated to win the matches as he is particularly eager to play in Lagos following the reports that the fans in the city have a unique way with its partisanship.

“Playing in Lagos, we were told is a special moment considering the fact that it was traditional home of the national team and if I’m selected it will be a special moment for me and most of my teammates.”