Super Eagles bolstered by arrival of stranded players ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers clash with South Africa
The atmosphere around the camp of Super Eagles of Nigeria has livened up even more as five players who were initially stranded in two different parts of the country due to the nationwide strike were ferried into Uyo on Tuesday morning.
Defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Calvin Bassey, alongside midfielder Frank Onyeka and forward Paul Onuachu, landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo just after noon aboard a private jet arranged by the Nigeria Football Federation.
They were then driven to the team’s Ibom Hotel and Resorts to meet up with their teammates in time for lunch.
The arrival of the quintet brought the tally of players in camp to 20, three days before the Day 3 qualifying battle with the Bafana Bafana at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in the Akwa Ibom capital.
Nigeria and South Africa will go toe-to-toe in a rematch of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations first semi-final, which the Super Eagles won 4-2 after a penalty shootout at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.
Three-time African champions Nigeria, who have reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup on three occasions, missed out on the last tournament in Qatar. After a sluggish start to the qualifiers, they need all three points on offer to be in strong contention for the only ticket from Group C as the campaign progresses.
Rwanda are the surprise leaders of the pool after two matchdays, with four points, followed by South Africa with three, and Nigeria with two.
The 10-match series will end in October next year, with the winners of the nine groups qualifying automatically for the finals in Canada, the USA, and Mexico. The best four second-placed teams in all nine groups will contest a CAF Play-off Tournament, with the winner proceeding to a FIFA Play-off Tournament for another slot.
