Nigeria was held to unexpected draws at home against Lesotho and away to Zimbabwe, while South Africa suffered a defeat to Rwanda, who now lead the group going into this round of fixtures.
With four matches remaining, the outcome of the qualifiers is still uncertain, but this upcoming window may provide some clarity. The match in Uyo on Friday leaves both teams with little room for error, especially Nigeria, who must secure a victory to avoid a precarious situation.
However, Nigeria’s preparation leading up to the match has been less than ideal, adding to the pressure of the encounter.
After parting ways with former coach José Peseiro, the Nigeria Football Federation took months to finalize a replacement, eventually confirming his former assistant Finidi George just weeks before the upcoming match.
Key striker and reigning African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, along with vice-captain and defensive Rock William Troost-Ekong, full-back Ola Aina, Kenneth Omeruo, and left-backs Zaidu Sanusi and Jamilu Collins, are sidelined with injuries. This leaves Nigeria without almost their entire first-choice defensive lineup.
To compound the challenges, a nationwide labor strike prevented eight key first-team players, including the exceptional Ademola Lookman, from arriving at the team camp on time.
Consequently, Coach George had just one day to train with his complete squad on the eve of the match.
The coach, however, said that should not be too much of a problem to overcome.
“The strike affected just three players, Maduka, Iwobi and Lookman,” George said. “For the rest, everybody got a bit of the training we programmed for them so I don’t think that will be a problem.”
With so many moving parts, what should we be looking at when the Super Eagles take on Bafana Bafana on Friday night?
Dealing with adversity is ingrained in Nigeria’s DNA. Overcoming challenges and rising above difficult situations is a hallmark of the team’s resilience.
Adversity has often served as a catalyst for their success rather than a hindrance. A prime example is the 2016 Olympic team, who overcame travel and funding obstacles to reach Brazil on the day of their opening game. Despite the setbacks, they emerged victorious and ultimately secured a bronze medal.
The Super Eagles are under increased pressure to secure a victory in this crucial match to stay in contention with group leaders Rwanda.
The opportunity to potentially claim the top spot, following Benin’s 1-0 victory over Amavubi, should serve as extra motivation for the team to excel despite the adversities they are facing.
The real question is which version of Nigeria will show up.
Can Lookman step up in Osimhen’s absence?
Nigeria Ademola Lookman
Victor Osimhen has been Nigeria’s top scorer in the last three qualifying matches, consistently delivering crucial goals in the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, as well as the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
During the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, he was the top scorer in Africa, with 10 and five goals, respectively, and totaled an impressive 19 goals across all three schedules.
This not only signifies a significant loss of goals for Nigeria in the crucial upcoming matches but also highlights the constant threat posed by his attacking strength, keeping defenders wary and alert.
Osimhen’s form seemed to have declined this past season, possibly influenced by family issues that resulted in a legal dispute with his brother-in-law, who also served as his former manager, along with injury setbacks.
While his absence would typically be significant, the emergence of Ademola Lookman as a standout performer at the Nations Cup (AFCON) could potentially benefit Nigeria.
Scoring three goals during Nigeria’s journey to the final, the Atalanta forward was on par with Troost-Ekong in terms of goal contributions.
