| POS | TEAM | MP | WON | DRAWN | LOST | GF | GA | PTS | |
|
1 |
|
Nigeria |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
|
2 |
|
Liberia |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
3 |
|
Cape Verde |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
4 |
|
C.A.R. |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
As Nigeria race towards qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup today, Thursday, October 7, 2021, victory for Super Eagles over the Wild Beasts of Central African Republic (CAR) will take them closer to securing their ticket for the Qatar football spectacle.
Already, victories over Liberia and Cape Verde have made Nigeria the Group C leaders with six points, while Liberia are in second place with three points from two matches.
Against the Wild Beasts at the Teslim Balogun Stadium today, the Eagles are hoping to secure maximum points to boost their chances of qualifying for a seventh tournament. Though they are massive underdogs heading into this crunch tie, Coach Raoul Savoy’s men are hoping to upset the three-time African kings.
Nevertheless, this could be a near-impossible task having in mind that they have failed to win any of their last nine matches in World Cup qualifiers. Their last victory was against Botswana on June 2, 2012. In that fixture, they subdued the Zebras 2-0 at the Stade Barthelemy Boganda courtesy of Foxi Kethevoama’s second-half double.
Coach Savoy is fully aware of the Eagles’ quality but hopes his team, comprising players plying their trades in the CAR top-flight, except for a few like Gisbert Zarambaud (Jura Sud) and Arnaud Tattevin (Paris), will put up a good fight on the night.
“We are looking forward to the game against Nigeria and this fixture will be our biggest game in recent time,” the Spanish-Swiss tactician told media, adding; “The Super Eagles players are big names who play in top European teams, but we will try as much as possible to put up a good fight and hope for the best.”
This is the first time both countries are facing each other at the international level. And despite missing key players like Wilfred Ndidi, Terem Moffi and Alex Iwobi, Coach Gernot Rohr still boast a strong squad that can deliver in Lagos.
Former Nigeria star Garba Lawal believes these absences are not an excuse for the 2013 African kings and he told Goal.com; “There are no easy games anymore but still, the players will have no excuse not beating them. Individually or collectively, we are better than the Central African Republic.
“Nigeria is bigger than one player, whether we have injuries or not, time will tell that it’s not about that. Some managers always have plan B, if ABC are not there, then DEF can fill their spots.
“The most important thing is for them to win the game which they know better than you and I. Even if it is a home-based Eagles playing, they have no excuse not to beat the Central African Republic.” – With Goal.com reports
Squads & Team News
| Position | Nigeria squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Uzoho; Akpeyi; Okoye |
| Defenders | Shehu, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Aina, Collins, Akpoguma, Balogun, Omeruo, Awaziem |
| Midfielders | Bonke, Aribo, Onyeka, Simon, Chidera, Kalu |
| Forwards | Onuachu, Awoniyi, Musa, Osimhen, Iheanacho |
Potential Nigeria XI: Okoye, Ekong, Balogun, Aina, Collins, Bonke, Aribo, Kalu, Simon, Osimhen, Iheanacho
| Position | Central African Republic squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Samolah, Biandao, Manda-Dansia |
| Defenders | Ngam Ngam, Yangao, Keita, Ndobe, Dambakizi, Zarabaud, Ban, Guinari |
| Midfielders | Ndokomandji, Toropite, Gorrier, Ngoma, Dertin, Gaopandia, Niamathe |
| Forwards | Damona, Mokonou, M’Vondo, Kookolo, Urie, Tattevin, Namnganda |
Potential CAR XI: Samolah, Ngam Ngam, Ndobe, Ndokomandji, Yangao, Guinari, Toropite, Urie, Niamathe, M’Vondo, Namnganda
