AFCON Morocco 2025: Eagles gun for three points to assure 2025 AFCON finals ticket

Posted : 14 November 2024

The reigning African vice-champions, Nigeria, know they will qualify for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations final tournament if they overcome the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign Matchday 5 encounter in Abidjan on Thursday.

This knowledge will drive a determined approach from the first blast of Senegalese referee Issa Sy's whistle.

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After three wins in their first four games (with the only draw being the Matchday 2 session against Rwanda in Kigali), the Super Eagles are riding high with 10 points, four more than second-placed Benin Republic, who suffered a setback in Kigali during the last round of games.

A win would virtually guarantee Nigeria's leadership of the group going into the final-day tussles.

On the other hand, the Cheetahs, with six points, know they cannot afford any more slip-ups following the loss in Kigali, as they could still be eliminated if they lose their last two games and Rwanda, with five points, earn a minimum of two points in their own final two matches.

Even Libya, with only one point, can still leap over Benin Republic if they beat Rwanda in Kigali, the Cheetahs are defeated by the Eagles, and the Knights beat the Cheetahs in North Africa on Monday.

These dynamics will make for a fierce 90 minutes at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in the heart of the Ivorian capital on Thursday evening.

With England-based centre-back Semi Ajayi absent due to injury, Coach Augustine Eguavoen is most likely to start with the defensive lineup that faced the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Uyo last month, meaning Captain William Ekong and Calvin Bassey at centre-back, with wing-backs Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi.

Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and the defensive midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika are available for the midfield positions, while Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Victor Boniface, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, and Kelechi Iheanacho are in the selection pool for the forward positions.

Victory will make Monday's concluding qualifier against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo an academic session, with only the visitors eager to try and get something from the clash while the Eagles play for pride.

AFCON Morocco 2025: Eagles gun for three points to assure 2025 AFCON finals ticket

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