AFCON
Osimhen returns to torment Benin Republic
Victor Osimhen whose introduction in the second half of the duel with Benin last September spelt doom for the Cheetahs in Uyo is back in the Super Eagles.
The scorer of the second goal in the 3-0 demolition of Benin has recovered from the injury that prevented him from featuring in the match day 3 of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
His return headlines the 25 man list that will prosecute the last two qualifying matches.
In the list are Captain William Ekong, Atalanta of Italy’s Ademola Lookman and winger Moses Simon
Nigeria will be gunning for perfect score lones and getting all available points in the duel with the Nigerian western neighbors, Benin.
For the duel holding in Abidjan, Austin Eguavoen invited reigning 19 other players including goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Others are midfielders Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi.
The strikers include Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface and Samuel Chukwueze.
Home-based defender Victor Collins will join up with the group for the first time, and there is a return for gangling forward Sadiq Umar, who plays for Real Sociedad in Spain.
The defenders called up include Olaoluwa Aina. Bruno Onyemaechi and
France-based Gabriel Osho will hope to play his first competitive game for fatherland, after his inability to honour a first call-up in the summer due to injury.
The Super Eagles will fly directly to Abidjan on 11 November, for the confrontation with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday, 14th November, before traveling down to Uyo for the final qualifying game against the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Monday, 18th November.
Currently top of their Group D, the Super Eagles will be certain of a place in the final tournament if they get a point against the Cheetahs, which will take then to 11 points, and with only final-day opponents Rwanda capable of catching up with them on points.
However, with a current tally of seven goals for and none against (following the CAF Disciplinary Board’s award of three points and three goals for the botched Matchday 4 encounter against Libya), the Super Eagles stand head and shoulders above the Amavubi, who have one-goal deficit and five points in their favour going into the final two matchdays.
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles return to the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan next week for their Group D 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Benin Republic.
While a draw will increase Nigeria’s point haul to 11, which is sufficient for the Super Eagles, the match holds greater significance to the Cheetahs of Benin, whose qualification for Morocco 2025 still hangs in the balance.
With six points from the earlier defeat of Libya and Rwanda in Abidjan, the remaining obtainable six points are crucial. Yet, the Super Eagles whose 2026 World Cup qualification also lies precariously in the balance need every match to build a steady momentum towards March 2025 when the World Cup qualifying series resume.
The Super Eagles move closer to 2025 Afcon and need just a point from obtainable six to qualify. With that, they are assured of at least a second place in the Group as only Benin Republic, could surpass the 11-point mark if they win their last two matches.
This is what has put the Benin Republic on the edge. As local newspaper, La Nation analysed, the Cheetahs have tricky fixtures.
A duel with uncompromising Super Eagles is tricky. The Eagles are still smarting from their shock loss to Benin five months ago in a World Cup qualifier and are therefore likely to be vengeful in their approach to next week’s Afcon duel.
Benin’s next game will also not be a stroll in the park when they confront Libya at home. Should Libya get a favourable result in their penultimate clash with Rwanda in Kigali, they are likely to be highly motivated in the last duel with Benin.
The second Group D ticket is therefore still wide, swinging and open.
The future of Rwanda’s national football coach, Torsten Spittler hangs in the balance as the qualification race for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations enters the final leg.
Rwanda’s Amavubi have bitter combatants, Libya and Nigeria to face in the last two match days of the competition.
According to Rwanda’s national publication, New Times, the Amavubi head coach Torsten Spittler has hinted that his future at the helm of the team will depend on whether Rwanda qualifies to AFCON 2025 or not.
Libya and Nigeria are to determine this. Rwanda will face Libya in Kigali next week Thursday before meeting Nigeria in Uyo on 18 November.
Currently third, on the Group D log where only the top two will qualify, Rwanda need to beat Libya at home, and hope Nigeria will do the same against Benin Republic ahead of their final day game with the Super Eagles.
Spittler, a German, told a press conference in Kigali that the Rwandan football federation had not opened up negotiations with him but there could be a possibility for that if Rwanda qualifies for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
“We have other national team games (AFCON qualifiers) in two weeks. After those games you will see if I will stay or not.
“The federation is waiting; so you also have to wait for the next two matches. If we go through to the AFCON, then you can ask if I want to stay. If we don’t qualify you cannot ask a question on contract.” Spittler told the press.
He noted that the federation hasn’t sent him any proposal yet. Spittler’s contract with Amavubi expires this month.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Figuratively, Nigerians will have a feel of Morocco when the Super Eagles play their last Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match in 20 days. Moroccan quartet of Samir Guezzaz, Zakaria Brinsi, Abdessamad Abertoune and Kech Chaf Mustapha have been assigned as officials for the Match Day 6 of the qualifying series in which Nigeria will engage Rwanda.
Samir Guezzaz will be the centre referee. He officiated Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to Mali earlier this year at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.
His compatriots Zakaria Brinsi, Abdessamad Abertoune and Kech Chaf Mustapha will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.
The match slated for 5pm will hold at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the commissioner while Somalian Ali Mohamed Ahmed will be in the role of referee assessor.
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