Uyo (Nigeria): The Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, has assured Nigerians that the team will be focused and purposeful to win tomorrow’s match against the Cheetahs of the Benin Republic.
Chelle gave the assurance at a pre-match news conference at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Monday.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in group C, with 14 points and third place, while the Benin Republic tops the group with 17 points, and South Africa is second with 15 points.
The coach noted that despite the initial travel challenge to Uyo, the boys were in high spirits, recognising the importance of tomorrow’s match.
“We have to win this game tomorrow. I have to focus on tomorrow’s game; we must win and nothing more.
“We want to go to the World Cup. I am thrilled, very excited, sometimes, we may be a little nervous,” Chelle said.
Captain Troost Ekong said the players would play tomorrow to make a name for themselves by winning the game convincingly.
He, however, said that tomorrow’s match may not be entirely in their hands.
“There are players here who want to make names for themselves, and those who will want their names to go down well in history.
“So, they are fully prepared and will play to win. Tomorrow may not be 100 per cent on our hands, but we will try to do our best and win the match,” Ekong said.
Meanwhile, the Benin Republic coach, Gernot Rohr, expressed optimism that his team will win tomorrow’s match and qualify for the World Cup.
Rohr said that the boys were in high spirits and in an advantageous position to get a victory in tomorrow’s match.