Galatasaray of Turkey and Super Eagles striker Henry Onyekuru has stated that the Eagles camp is good and the players are ready for business once again ahead of today’s final AFCON qualifying tie against the Pirates of Seychelles.
Team manager of the Seychelles national team, Davis Khan has submitted that it will be a herculean task as very impossible for Seychelles to defeat Nigeria today when the two teams lock horns in an inconsequential AFCON dead rubber fixture.
Today’s AFCON qualifying match between Nigeria and Seychelles is a dead rubber tie as the Super Eagles already have a ticket to the biennial tournament and the Pirates of Seychelles have zero chance of pulling through.
Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo says the target for the Super Eagles is winning the fourth African Cup of Nations title for Nigeria.
The Super Eagles won its third crown back in 2013 but has failed to qualify for the last two editions of the African biggest Football tournament.
Having booked their place in this year’s edition in Egypt, the Chinese based striker is optimistic about the chances of team winning the on the North African soil again.
”I must commend the coach (Rohr) for the wonderful job he is doing, trying to prepare the team ahead of the AFCON. I have no doubt that we are going to do well. Majority of the players are from the World Cup team in Russia , we have played together and we know ourselves very well,” said Ighalo.
Ighalo will lead Eagles attack again in the last AFCON qualifying Group E game against Seychelles in Asaba on Friday.
Gabriel Olalekan’s own goal in the first half helped Rangers International of Enugu to a scrappy win over Sunshine Stars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Thursday.
Rangers returned to domestic assignment for the first time since their failure to advance beyond the Group phase of the CAF Confederations Cup this season.
However, the Gbenga Ogunbote side performance was not a convincing as they benefited from Olalekan’s error, as he diverted Ajani Ibrahim’s cross into his own net leaving his goalkeeper, Ayo Ojo stranded in the 26th minutes.
Rangers head coach Gbenga Ogunbote dropped Michael Uchebo to the bench , started with Bright Silas, Ajani Ibrahim and Ifeanyi George attack . Pape Ousmane Sane and former Enyimba defender, Isiaka Oladuntoye paired in the heart of defence for the Flying Antelopes as Okey Odita dropped to the bench.
Sunshine Stars gaffer, Kabiru Dogo, paraded a strong side, with Sunday Abe and former Rivers United defender, Gabriel Olalekan , Seun Sogbeso, Esosa Igbinoba all started.
The Flying Antelopes should have taken the lead inside 11 minutes, but Godwin Aguda could only direct his attempt into the side of the net from a Bright Silas cross. Ifeanyi George also came close to drawing first blood for the Flying Antelopes, before hitting the woodwork on 23 minutes.
Sunshine goalkeeper Ayo Ojo also denied Rangers a perfect opportunity to take the lead, when he rushed off his line to keep out Ajani Ibrahim’s low drive from ten yards on 25 minutes.
But it won’t be long before Ojo got beaten, it was his defender Gabby Olalekan who turned Ajani’s cross into his own net to score the only goal of the game.
The home side were almost caught napping in added time, when substitute Chibundu Amah struck the woodwork, an effort that almost brought Sunshine Stars level before the break.
The Owena Waves started the second half with a renewed confidence and dominated the early stages of the second half. The pressure almost paid off on 56 minutes when Amah’s strike beat Nana Bonsu, only for Oladuntoye to provide a vital block to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net.
Rangers then pulled the pressure and came close to a second goal but Ojo would stretch at full length to keep out Ajani’s strike.
Rangers moves to seventh position on Group A of the NPFL, while Sunshine remain in fifth position.
Next for Enugu is a home tie with Katsina United on Sunday, while Sunshine Stars travel to Aba to face seven-time champions, Enyimba International.
Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr says he want Odion Ighalo to finish as the top scorer for the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.
Ighalo and Fiston Abdul Razak of Burundi are tied on six goals but Rohr said in his conversation with the media that he wants his number one striker to finish the qualifying campaign as the goal king of the continent after a difficult 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“We will support Ighalo to emerge as the highest scorer at the AFCON qualifiers. He is on six goals the same as the Burundi player(Fiston Abdul Razak) but we will do our best to help him to silent his critics who wrote him off after the World Cup,” Rohr told journalists.
“He has a possibility to achieve that and his players will be there to support him.” Rohr told the media.
Nigeria will take on Seychelles in the last Group E game of the AFCON qualifier at Stephen Keshi Stadium in. Asaba on Friday22nd of March 2019.
Out of favour Eagles midfielder and Anothorsis Famagusta of Cyprus player, Nosa Emmanuel Igiebor has submitted that the Eagles presently have a team on ground that can compete for honours when the AFCON 2019 kicks off in Egypt later this year.
Nigeria, who have already qualified for the May competition in Egypt, defeated Seychelles 3-0 at the Stade Linite Stadium in September 2018.
Speaking with www.brila.net, Igiebor who has played in Norway, Turkey, Spain, and now Cyprus strongly believes coach Gernot Rohr already has a team ready and good to go for the country, even as he remains solely responsible for the performances of the players as well as the way they play.
“We are talking about the coach, he is solely responsible for the team so he makes sure everything falls according to his plans”.
“The players do what the coach tells them, and nothing else”
“With what I saw, I can strongly say that we have a team, thats all I can say, we have a team”.
The Eagles have already taken advantage of the FIFA window, which will see the Super Eagles play an International Friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday four days after Seychelles clash on March 26, 2019.
Caykur Rizespor of Turkey and Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem has promised fans of himself as well as the the Eagles that he will give his very best if called upon by coach Gernot Rohr ahead of tomorrow’s dead rubber AFCON qualifier against Seychelles in Asaba.
Awaziem was named in the 23 man squad for the encounter at the Stephen Keshi stadium.
Speaking with www.brila.net, Awaziem called for continuous support from the fans, urging them to always get behind the team.
“They should expect the best from me, as for me, I will continue to do my best and fight for my country”
“ I just want our soccer loving Nigerians to support me as well as the team and thats what we need their support”
The team takes on the Pirates of Seychelles at the Stephen Keshi Stadium from 4p.m. on Friday.
After the AFCON 2019 clash with Seychelles, Super Eagles are to also play Pharaohs of Egypt four days later in an international friendly on Tuesday, March 25 as part of the team’s preparations for the finals.
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