Despite being assured of qualification and top position in Group D at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who are expected to ring some changes in the starting eleven, would still go for the kill and maximum points against the African Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau in today’s last group match.
The Eagles, apart from chasing a 100 per cent haul of points would want to match a record of winning all group matches in the tournament, set on only two previous occasions while playing under the same Coach Austine Eguavoen.
Two wins in as many games have set the Eagles up for the round of 16 but today’s game with Guinea Bissau is an opportunity for Eguavoen, while keen on victory, to test run some players yet to be fully tested at the championship.
Interim Coach Augustine Eguavoen has already admitted that he will be rotating players for this match: “Everybody in this team has a chance to play in this tournament, so with qualification secured, we will be giving some players the opportunity to play in the next game.”
Though the coach would like to remain competitive in the game, players like Wilfried Ndidi and Joe Aribo are likely to be rested for Kelechi Nwakali and Frank Onyeka to prove their mettle. Also, Samuel Chukwueze and energetic Moses Simon may give way to Alex Iwobi and Chidera Ejuke to try to expresss themselves and provide confidence on squad depth going forward.
It remains to be seen if Umar Sadiq will come in for Taiwo Awoniyi, although you are inclined to give the Almeria frontman significant minutes despite the ongoing criticism over cameos against Egypt and Sudan.
Admittedly, making a glut of changes has its demerits, including a lack of rhythm for the incoming players owing to a dearth of game time, the risk of an incoherent display and preferred starters losing momentum.
The Super Eagles may have played themselves into reckoning with their performance in the two previous matches, Guinea Bissau, who drew their first match 0-0 with Sudan and lost narrowly 0-1 to seven time winners, Egypt in controversial circumstances may pose a potential banana peel for the Eagles.
According to one of their midfielders, Pele, “It is our ambition to qualify and we are not giving up on that, we must do everything to defeat Nigeria because it is very important for us,” said the Monaco player. “We will fight with everything we have and if we played as we did against Egypt, we will qualify. We want everyone at home proud of us.”
This is why the Eagles, their handlers and whoever gets the chance to play today must not take anything for granted. The team has evoked great expectations from Nigerians and their fans, they must not lower the standard already reached.
While today’s game does not change the Eagles’ fate, Eguavoen will hope that the stand-ins flourish as they look to end the group stage without a blemish. Nine points from a possible nine for the first time since 2006 has a nice ring to it.
Meanwhile, Sudan will seek an upset win over old rivals Egypt when the teams meet in the other Group D clash at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde today.
Sudan heads into this clash sitting bottom of the log after a 0-0 draw with Guinea-Bissau and 3-1 loss at the hands of Nigeria this past weekend.
The Falcons of Jediane are still in last 16 contention, but they must beat Egypt to have a chance of snatching second place or being one of the top-ranked third-place finishers.

By: Gabriel Nwanetanya