‘It’s a new era’
The Super Eagles delegation to tomorrow’s Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda arrived in Kigali, yesterday, boasting of victory over the Amavubi’s to end this window of the AFCON qualifiers on a 100 per cent note.
The team of 23 players, five members of the technical crew, a few board members and journalists left Uyo about 1.00 p.m. for the three-hour flight to Kigali aboard a Valuejet flight.
The Super Eagles, who lead Group D on three points after defeating Benin Republic 3-0 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday, will meet the Amavubis of Rwanda in Kigali tomorrow in their second game of Group D.
Libya, which was held to a 1-1 draw by Rwanda in their adopted Abidjan, Cote d’Ivore home, will meet Benin Republic in the group’s other game at the same venue, which also hosts the Cheetahs games.
Speaking after leading the Eagles to a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic, Interim Coach, Augustine Eguavoen said his team is ready for the battle in Kigali, boasting that the Eagles can beat any team with the quality of players in the team.He said: “We have quality players to beat any team, but we respect every team anyway. Any coach can come in and do the same job with the Super Eagles.
“It is a mindset, we have the potential and how you perceive your opponent, given the information about them and then go out and do the job,” the coach explained.
He attributed the victory over West African neighbour to the formation his crew adopted, adding that any formation could be used to ensure that the team was successful.
“We can decide to use any system. It is something we discussed and I slept over it. I know that with the calibre of players that we have, we can decide to play any formation. Football is about winning, losing and also earning a draw, I don’t believe that we have a poor result,” he said.
On today’s match, Eguavoen said his squad “is on a momentum. We have the right mentality now, and the mood in camp is excellent. Everyone in camp is eager for us to pick up the three points in Rwanda and stay firmly on top of the qualifying table. We are here for business and I am happy that everyone is on the same page.
“I am also happy that we have arrived here in good time, and the players can rest well while we look forward to the official training on Monday afternoon.”
Team captain William Ekong said: “There is nothing much to say other than that we are here for a purpose. Our target is the three points, and we have spoken among ourselves on the imperative of going hard for it from the first blast of the referee’s whistle.
“It is going to be a tough game because Rwanda have a good team and got a point from their first match. We must not relent throughout the 90 minutes.”
today’s match will kick off at 3pm Rwanda time (2pm Nigeria time).
