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Super Eagles out to build on post World Cup momentum

football22 March 2019 07:50| © Backpage TXT
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Nigeria © Backpagepix

Already qualified Nigeria will be aiming to end their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on a high with victory over Seychelles at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Friday afternoon.

Kick-off is at 5pm CAT (GMT +2).

The Super Eagles have already booked their spot at this year's showpiece in Egypt, following a 1-1 draw away to South Africa in Johannesburg last year.

Nigeria lost their opening game of the qualifiers 2-0 at home to Bafana Bafana, but followed the result with three wins in succession. The sequence included back-to-back victories over Libya and a 3-0 win over Seychelles in Victoria.

This fired the Super Eagles to the top of Group E and they will remain in the position with victory over the Island nation this weekend.

Nigeria will be without the injured duo of Ola Aina and Samuel Kalu for the clash, but welcome back top-scorer Odion Ighalo who missed the clash in South Africa.

Ighalo has scored six goals in qualifying for the three-time champions, including a hat-trick in a 4-0 thumping of Libya in Uyo. Head coach Gernot Rohr hopes the former Watford-man can finish the campaign atop the scoring charts.

“Of our two games this period, the game against Seychelles is more important," said Rohr who's troops face Egypt in an international friendly this month.

"We need to finish this qualifier strong and also it will be nice to see Odion Ighalo finish as the top scorer in the competition.

“He is currently on six goals alongside a player from Burundi [Fiston Abdul Razak], but we would love to see him score against Seychelles and move up to the top. This will help boost his confidence.”

Already eliminated Seychelles sit bottom of the group having yet to win a game and having conceded 22 goals in their allotted fixtures.

The Pirates lost 1-8 to Libya at home in their most recent encounter.

Nigeria head into the clash on a six game unbeaten run, which started following their 2018 FIFA World Cup elimination last year.

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