Nigeria’s Super Eagles have begun preparation for the AFCON qualification game. It is no gainsaying that the Nigeria national team possess incredible quality talents to be a great footballing nation.
The Eagles’ camp opened on Wednesday ahead of their AFCON Group A clash at the Goodswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The match will kick off at 17:00.
It should be noted that the second game ever between Nigeria and Sao Tome, in the first battle ended 10-0 in favour of the Super Eagles.
Playing on home soil at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, the Peseiro’s side are eager to showcase their dominance and secure three crucial points.
Sao Tome and Principe are in the fixture determined to cause an upset and eager to make a significant presence on the African football stage.
The Godswill Akpabio Stadium provides the stage for a captivating evening of football drama and excitement. With a seating capacity of over 30,000, it’s expected to be filled with passionate Nigerian football loving fans who will create a thrilling atmosphere.
Notably, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have won the AFCON Cup on three occasions in the history of the competition despite reaching the finals on seven tournaments. The Eagles also won gold in the men’s football event at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, as well as silver at the Beijing Olympics and bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Notwithstanding, the Super Eagles with 12 points from five qualifying games have already secured their qualification spot for the 2023 AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast but at least need a point against Sao Tome and Principe to end in first place in their group ahead of Guinea Bissau who are on 10 points and and play at home to Sierra Leone.
The invited Super Eagles players have been in camp preparing for Sunday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier game with Sao Tome and Principe.
Among the players in camp are first-time invitees; Gift Orban, Victor Boniface and Jordan Torunarigha.
Head coach Jose Peseiro with his assistants arrived Uyo on Tuesday, and has been tactically preparing the team for an overwhelming home victory come Sunday.
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday disclosed in a statement that Jose Peseiro will continue as Super Eagles coach despite agreeing to a pay cut, and would lead Nigeria’s national team to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Peseiro has been mandated to lead the three-time African champions to at least the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by the Ivory Coast in January.
The 63-year-old initial one-year contract expired in July with NFF insisting his previous $70,000 per month paid salary could no longer be accommodated.
However, the new contract agreement pegs his monthly pay at $50,000.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, with his team made up of his Permanent Secretary and some Directors, in a meeting with the leadership of the NFF on Saturday in Abuja, had a fruitful engagement to proffer solutions to the issues associated with the Super Eagles’ head coach.
It is important to note that the engagement was satisfactory with an agreement to extend the expired contract with the Super Eagles Coach Jose Peseiro to the end of February, 2024, with coach Peseiro agreeing to a salary cut for the duration of the extended contract.
Interestingly, with the Super Eagles set to face São Tomé and Principe in a much anticipated AFCON Qualifiers on Sunday, in Uyo, the Minister of Sports Development desire to celebrate a victory from the match, which he termed as a good welcome gift for him.
“Even though we are home and dry in the qualifying series, I will be excited if the Super Eagles can beat São Tomé and Principe for the generality of Nigerians, as we celebrate this new phase of our sports,” Enoh said.
