After missing out on the last World Cup in Qatar, the team is motivated to make it to the championships in 2026, which will be hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, according to stand-in captain Kenneth Omeruo of the Super Eagles.
Following a goalless first leg of the last round of qualification in Ghana, Nigeria and Ghana played to a 1-1 tie at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, meaning that Nigeria was not selected to compete in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In their bid to make it to the next edition of the Mundial, the Eagles will take on Lesotho in their first game of the qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Thursday.
Speaking ahead of the game, Omeruo said the three-time African champions were determined to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“Most of us in the team still remember how painful it was not to be part of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The memory lingers but then, that is gone. This is a fresh opportunity and we all want to be at the next one.
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“There is always the temptation to over-think how to process the campaign, but it is a long one and we have opted to think and plan for only the match ahead of us. On Thursday, we will play Lesotho. We remember them from our 2021 AFCON qualifiers. After the final whistle on Thursday, we can then start thinking about the next opponents.”
Victor Osimhen, a striker for Napoli who recorded three goals and three assists in two games during the team’s most recent meeting in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, will not play for the Eagles.
The striker picked up a hamstring injury during a friendly game against Saudi Arabia last month and has been ruled out of this encounter.
AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi have both also been ruled out of the qualifiers.
Omeruo added that the absence of the players would not be used as an excuse ahead of their games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
“We have a number of players missing due to injury or some other circumstance; we have to deal with that. Those of us who are available must step up to the plate and do the job,” Omeruo added.
“Winger Samuel Chukwueze, who got a goal against the Crocodiles in that first clash in Maseru, is also out injured.”
The Nigeria Football Federation’s media staff reports that on Tuesday, all 23 of the invited players showed up at the camp and practiced on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium’s training field.
