Super Eagles stars Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi eye Benin Republic revenge in Uyo
Super Eagles midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi have expressed their determination ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic.
The match, which is crucial for Nigeria’s hopes of booking a spot in the next African Championships, is seen as a chance for revenge after the Super Eagles were stunned by Benin in a previous encounter.
The Super Eagles are gearing up to face their West African neighbors in a match that has taken on added significance due to Benin’s surprising 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Abidjan, a result that dented Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup. Now, as they prepare for the AFCON qualifiers, Ndidi and Iwobi are eager to turn the tables.
Speaking after a Premier League match between Fulham and Leicester City, which saw Iwobi and fellow Nigerian Calvin Bassey on the Fulham side facing off against Ndidi, a midfielder for Leicester, the duo shared their thoughts on the upcoming international fixture.
Wilfred Ndidi acknowledged that Nigeria has not performed as expected in the World Cup qualifiers but expressed confidence in their ability to make up ground in the AFCON qualifiers. “We know we haven’t done as well as we wanted in the World Cup qualifiers, but we’re ready to make things right in Uyo. They [Benin] had their win in Abidjan, but we’ll see what happens in Uyo. Don’t worry; we’re prepared,” Ndidi said.
Alex Iwobi echoed Ndidi’s sentiments and emphasized the importance of proving their quality on the field. “There’s still a lot to fight for; we have a lot to prove,” Iwobi stated. “We know the quality we have in this team, and we need to show it consistently for Nigeria, just like we do for our club sides. The fans expect a lot from us, and we expect a lot from ourselves. We’re ready to get the points we need to qualify.”
The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic on September 7th and Rwanda three days later in the next international break, with the Nigerian team determined to secure their place in the AFCON tournament.
