After a run of four competitive matches starting with the semi-final match of the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire and two World Cup qualifying duels, without a win, Super Eagles interim manager, Austin Eguavoen has promised a turn around as the team begins the qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

According to a press statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF,  

Eguavoen has declared that Super Eagles are raring to go for all six points available in this month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against their counterparts from Benin Republic and Rwanda.

It has become a back-to-back clash with western neigbours, benin Republic who three months ago deflated the Super Eagles 2-1 in a World Cup qualifiers.

It was the first ever victory of Benin Republic over Nigeria in 65 years.

Prior to that, the Super Eagles have been having a no-win run in six consecutive World Cup qualifying matches starting with their 1-1 home draw with Cape Verde in Lagos in 2021.

 Since then, it had been a 0-0 and 1-1 draw with Ghana in the futile qualifier for Qatar 2022; 1-1 with Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa before the heart-breaking 2-1 loss to Benin Republic.

 If the spate of poor run will change on Saturday, it will be a major turn-around by Eguavoen as the Super Eagles square-up with Gernot Rohr tutored Benin.

Three days later, the team will keep a date with with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali.

 Hear the turn-around manager, Eguavoen: “Our objective is clear: to pick the six points in both matches. The players know this, and are committed to accomplishing this.

“The matches will not be easy; no qualifying game can be taken for granted because all the teams want to play in the finals.

“However, we have spoken to the players and all of us are on the same page.

“Starting with the match against Benin Republic on Saturday, nobody is mentioning anything about revenge. Our goal is three points, and then we aim for another three points in Kigali on Tuesday that will put us in good stead for qualification.”

Eguavoen has a number of stalwarts who are truly determined to appease fans and enthusiasts for missing the two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in June, from which poor results threaten the Eagles’ chances of reaching the 2026 finals.

AFCON’s Man-of-the-Competition William Ekong, also team captain, was overlooked for the ties against South Africa and Benin Republic as he was recovering from injury, but is back at the heart of the rearguard to lead the three-time African champions to hunt for points for another showpiece. Ekong scored three goals at the AFCON finals early in the year.

Reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen missed the two games in June, as defender Ola Aina and star forward Moses Simon due to injury.

Osimhen just signed for Turkish giants Galatasaray and will be keen to impress his new employers, while banishing talks of his rustiness.

Rapid-raider Simon, who on his good day can single-handedly decimate the opposition, is also eager to again dorn the green-white-green, just as Aina.

Eguavoen is most likely to start goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, with Aina, Semi Ajayi, Ekong and Bassey at the rear, and any three of Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Alhassan Yusuf and Raphael Onyedika in midfield. Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman are gunning for shirts at the fore.

Lookman, in the list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or, will walk with a greater spring in his steps, and justifiably so. He scored three crucial goals for Nigeria at the AFCON, and his 17 goals and 11 assists steered Atalanta FC to the Europa Cup final, where his hat-trick did the damage on German club, Bayer Leverkusen.

Saturday’s match will kick off at 5pm inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.