By Aderonke Ojo
…Chelle Shuffles Eagles After Injury Scare.
Super Eagles of Nigeria’s Chief Football Tactician, Malian Eric Chelle is by now spending more time in his Prayer Room and carrying Calculator about as his players resume training for the last stretch of the world cup qualifier from the African zone and any stumble would make the Eagles crash land.
Nigeria is having some players under injury stress like Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel who is ruled out for the world cup campaign.
The dependable Defender Ola Aina and Forward Fisayo Dele-Bashiru but Coach Chelle as called up Porto’s defender Zaidu Sanusi and Crystal Palace’s Midfielder, Christansus Uche who debuted for the Eagles last June.
The truth is the quality of players in the lineup of the Eagles most of who are Bench warmers in their clubs and the psychological fact that most of them has double affiliations to other countries so the spirit of patriotism and nationality is questionable.
Nigeria’s football confraternity loves football betting, praying fervent prayers for their favorite teams and much football permutation that Chelle has been affected with like a virus.
The Super Eagles are to file out against less fancied Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane in South Africa on October 10th at 5pm Nigerian time.
Their opponents in same Group C are used to the Rugby cum football Mokaba Stadium that sits 41,733 fans and any slip in that match, South African.
Nigeria and Lesotho have met four times with Nigeria winning thrice and draw one.
The less fancied Lesotho shocked Nigeria with a 1-1 draw in Uyo on 16th November 2023 in a build up to this world cup qualifier;
The other meetings during AFCON matches were played on 8th September 2007 with Nigeria winning Lesotho 2-0; 17th November 2019 Lesotho lost to Nigeria 2-4 in their country and 30th March 2021 Nigeria beat Lesotho3- 0.
Lesotho played their last two matches of the world cup losing to Benin Republic in Abidjan and bowed 0-3 to South Africa playing in Mandela country away from home .
While Nigeria played 1-1 with South Africa in Uyo,beat Rwanda by a lone goal at the same venue.
Come on Friday at 5pm Rwanda will hosts Benin Republic in Kigali and also same time Zimbabwe will host South Africa home away from home in the Mandela nation.
The truth is that if Nigeria falters against Lesotho it will be a great advantage for South Africa who if she wins will chalk 17 points and aggravate the migraine of Nigeria.
Former Nigeria’s Coach, Gernot Rohr who handles Benin Republic now believes Benin holds the key to Nigeria’s qualification and has warned his wards that any indiscipline, argument with officials or miscellaneous offences on the pitch may jeopardize Benin’s chances and give the ticket to South Africa so he wants cool headed playing.
Nine of Benin’s players are on the tight rope with Yellow cards (caution) and another yellow means they will not be available in their last world cup game which is against Nigeria in Uyo on 14th October at 5 pm.
Currently, Benin after the deduction hullabaloo of South African points with FIFA leads group C with 14 points scoring 11 goals and conceding 7.
South Africa is 2nd also with 14 points scoring 12 goals and conceding 9; Nigeria is 3rd with 11 points scoring 9 goals and conceding 7 while Rwanda is 4th also with 11 points after 5 goals scored and 5 goals conceded.
Lesotho is 5th with 9 points scoring 7 goals and conceding 10 while Zimbabwe is down the ladder with 4 points 5 goals scored and 11 goals conceded.
Lesotho and Zimbabwe plays the last group game on Thursday 13th October at 5pm; South Africa hosts Zimbabwe on Friday at 5pm same date and time Nigeria will host Benin in Uyo.
The country that leads the group gets automatic qualification for the 2026 world cup finals in the Americas while runners up in each group will be made to have a play off before qualification.