The trio of Victor Osimhen, John Noble and Odion Ighalo was missing yesterday as the Super Eagles had their first training session ahead of Saturday’s Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup African qualifying encounter against the Lone Star of Liberia.
According to the statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), 21 players trained at the Grand Stade de Tanger also known as Stade Ibn Batouta, a 45,000 –capacity facility in Morocco.
Nigeria currently leads Group C with nine points and will need all three points from the encounter with the Lone Star in order to stay in contention to star in the knockout phase of the World Cup qualifiers, set for March 2022.
Only the group winners will proceed to the knockout phase that will be a home-and-away exercise to produce Africa’s five flagbearers in Qatar.
Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks, who hosts Central African Republic in Mindelo on Saturday, have seven points and will be hoping the Super Eagles stumble in North Africa.
However, the Super Eagles have scaled the hurdle in their last three major qualifying campaigns with matches to spare, and are confident they could reach the knockout round before the final day of the qualifiers by beating Liberia, and hoping Cape Verde are unhinged on home soil by the Beasts.
Nigeria reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals with a match to spare; a feat repeated in the qualifying series for the 2019 AFCON.
For the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, the Super Eagles qualified with two matches to spare.
EAGLES for Lone Star and Blue Sharks
Goalkeepers: John Noble; Daniel Akpeyi, Maduka Okoye.
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem; Kenneth Omeruo; Leon Balogun; William Ekong; Olaoluwa Aina; Jamilu Collins; Abdullahi Shehu; Zaidu Sanusi; Kevin Akpoguma.
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka; Joseph Ayodele-Aribo; Wilfred Ndidi; Alex Iwobi; Kelechi Iheanacho.
Forwards: Ahmed Musa; Samuel Chukwueze; Victor Osimhen; Moses Simon; Paul Onuachu; Chidera Ejuke; Odion Jude Ighalo.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
