Both the Super Eagles and Napoli star striker Victor Osimhen will today get another chance to prove that a shock 1-0 home loss to minnows Guinea Bissau was only a fluke.
Bad luck combined with poor finishing and resolute defending conspired to hand The Djurtus (The Wild Dogs), ranked a lowly 118th in the world, a famous victory over the three-time African champions.
Thousands of fans trooped to the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja with the hope of seeing Osimhen reproduce his exploits with Napoli, but left deeply disappointed that this did not happen.
With the Super Eagles Osimhen has not enjoyed the quality midfield he has at Napoli and so has struggled to shine lately for the national team.
Danger signals showed up right from the quality of the call-ups for these qualifiers and these fears will later be well founded.
Under-fire coach Jose Peseiro will now have to ring changes in his starting XI from Friday’s setback.
Injured Hoffenheim central defender Kevin Akpoguma is expected to give way to Semi Ajayi, while Ademola Lookman could be consigned to the bench after a below-par performance in Abuja.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has since demanded for total commitment from the team.
The pressure is certainly of the Eagles to win today after Sierra Leone reignited their fading qualification hopes with a 2-0 win over bottom team Sao Tome and Principe.
The Leone Stars are now just two points behind second-placed Nigeria with Guinea Bissau top of the standings on seven points.
The two qualification tickets in Group A could now go all the way to the final rounds of matches in June and September.
Kick-off time in Bissau today is 6pm in Nigeria.
