As excitement builds up for the classic FIFA World Cup qualifiers between two West African football giants — Nigeria and Ghana, Super Eagles’ handler Austin Eguavoen has said his men will speak on the football pitch in Kumasi, Ghana.
“We have respect for Ghana, they are not pushovers. We will go out to fight and get the job done.” Eguavoen said.
The Super Eagles interim head coach on Wednesday assured the press that his team is out to secure a convincing victory in Ghana.
“We will do everything possible to win and win well against Ghana. If you witness the training yesterday, the boys are sharp and ready to go. We will speak on the pitch.”
The Nigerian team handler, Eguavoen is famed for his confidence and therefore expressed no worries in the midfield following Wilfred Ndidi’s absence due to injury.
“We have a couple of players who can play in that position. Our philosophy will not change, our style will not change but a couple of personalities will change.”
Eguavoen said he would not disclose who is going to take Ndidi place in the Super Eagles squad as he immediately shoved aside any impact of Ghana’s delayed list of players on his side.
“Late release of Ghana’s list has no effect on us.”
Similarly, Super Eagles’ captain Ahmed Musa has told Nigerians to dismiss the mind game that no country ever wins Ghanaian team at Baba Ayara Stadium.
“I’ve never played in Ghana, we have been hearing that they have not lost in that stadium. When we played against Benin Republic, they said they never lost in Benin and we went there and won.
“We know the importance of this game. We just need to go into the pitch and win. We want to be in the World Cup.” Musa noted.
Musa’s assistant, William Troost-Ekong equally assured Nigerians the defence department of Super Eagles is vibrant to ensure victory for Nigerians.
“There was a miscommunication in the press about the duration of my injury. Am back, fit and feeling good. I’ve been training for the last two weeks.”
Ahmed Musa was confident that since the beginning of his career with the super Eagles he has never lost to any country, going into the World Cup and promise Nigerians the team is “focused” to qualify for Qatar World Cup by God’s grace.
Both the captain and coach acknowledged they owe Nigerians smiles following a dismal outing at the last AFCON in Cameroon and are preparing hard to “pay Nigerians with this”.
Super Eagles In Camp — List and Clubs in Full
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); John Noble(Enyimba FC, Nigeria)
Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Innocent Bonke (FC Lorient, France); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain)
