African football giants Nigeria and South Africa are poised for a high-stakes encounter this Friday night as they face off in the third week of the CAF World Cup qualifiers.
The match will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, promising an intense battle as both teams vie for crucial points in Group C.
Nigeria, the hosts, will enter the match sitting in fourth place in Group C with two points from their first two games. The Super Eagles have yet to secure a win in the qualifiers, drawing their opening matches. Despite their slow start, Nigeria will be looking to leverage their home advantage and the fervent support of their fans to secure a much-needed victory.
South Africa, on the other hand, find themselves in a slightly better position with three points, trailing group leaders Rwanda by just one point. Bafana Bafana have shown promise in their early qualifiers, and a win in Uyo could propel them to the top of the group standings, putting them in a strong position to advance to the World Cup.
Team News:
As Nigeria gears up for their crucial CAF World Cup qualifier against South Africa this Friday in Uyo, the Super Eagles will be without several key players.
Most notably, Napoli forward Victor Osimhen will miss both of this month's qualifiers due to an injury, dealing a significant blow to Nigeria's attacking prowess.
In addition to Osimhen's absence, head coach George has made some surprising selection decisions. He opted not to call up experienced forward Ahmed Musa and veteran defender Kenneth Omeruo, both of whom have been mainstays in the national team setup for years.
Furthermore, Nathan Tella requested to be excused from the squad due to personal reasons, adding to the list of absentees.
In response to these notable absences, George has turned to fresh talent from the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). Rising stars Kenneth Igboke and Sodiq Ismael have been called up, bringing youthful energy and enthusiasm to the squad. Their inclusion signals a potential shift towards nurturing domestic talent for the national team.
Additionally, Rizespor midfielder Ibrahim Olawoyin has been called up and is in line for selection. Olawoyin's impressive performances in Turkey have caught the eye, and he is expected to bring dynamism and flair to Nigeria's midfield.
Check out how Nigeria could line up for the game against South Africa below:
Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Tanimu, Bassey; Ndidi, Onyedika; Lookman, Iwobi, Chukwueze; Boniface.
Kickoff Time for the Game:
The game will commence at exactly 8 PM Nigerian Time.
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