As the race to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals next year heats up, head coach Augustine Eguavoen has set as his goal the maximum six points from this month’s doubleheader between the Super Eagles and Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in the teams’ group D battle.
Nigeria will host the first game on Friday night at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, while the second game will be played on Tuesday night at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, which is 19 kilometers away from Benghazi, Libya’s capital.
With two games played, Nigeria has accumulated four points, one more than the Benin Republic and two more than Rwanda.
Eguavoen on Libya doubleheader
Eguavoen stressed the importance of getting maximum points against Libya during this international window.
He said, “We have to be practical about it: our best and surest route to the finals will be to pick up the six points in the matches with Libya and be somewhat guaranteed of a place in Morocco even before Matchday 5.
“We don’t want to be in any anxiety in the run-in in this qualifying campaign.”
With a double victory over Libya, the Eagles will advance to 10 points, while the two sides chasing Nigeria will eventually chip away at each other’s advantage.
With the arrival of forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke on Wednesday morning all twenty-three invited players are in Uyo.
