Deprived of Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray striker who has withdrawn, Nigeria under coach Éric Chelle face Tanzania on Friday in Uyo and then Tuesday in Zanzibar, with the aim of six points to revive their campaign towards AFCON 2027.
On Friday 13 November, Nigeria host Tanzania in Uyo; on Tuesday, they travel to Zanzibar for the return match. Two fixtures which, according to The Guardian Nigeria, must bring Éric Chelle’s side six points to put the qualifying campaign back on track.
The coach spoke to the Nigerian press: “We must work hard in these two matches and do everything to win. It is important to sustain the hope and all the players are in that mood to banish the memory of that defeat to Guinea Bissau and show their true quality.” The coach added a remark on the mood in the camp: “The spirit in camp is high and everyone is focused on achieving victory in both matches.”
Osimhen out, Lookman and Arokodare in the front line
Nigeria will have to do without Victor Osimhen, injured in a Turkish league match for Galatasaray a few days before the squad was announced. The striker has withdrawn again, shifting the Super Eagles’ attacking burden onto other shoulders.
Éric Chelle will rely on Ademola Lookman, of Atletico Madrid, on Akor Adams, who plays in Italy, and on Tolu Arokodare, the Ajax Amsterdam striker. The latter has 13 goals this season between the Dutch league and the Conference League. Plenty of firepower to try to pick the Tanzanian lock.
Behind them, uncertainty reigns. The coach could refresh his midfield with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Samson Tijani and Tochukwu Nnadi, while Benjamin Fredricks, Chibuike Nwaiwu and Abdullahi Ibrahim Bewene appear as options in defence, according to the Nigerian daily. Plenty of possibilities, no certainties.
The 0-3 against Guinea-Bissau in their minds
The urgency did not come from nowhere. On 29 September, Nigeria lost 0-3 to Guinea-Bissau in Uyo, having beaten Madagascar at home. A severe setback, on their own turf.
It is precisely that memory the coach wants to erase. The stated desire to “banish the memory of that defeat” reflects the stakes of this gathering: to make people forget September’s thrashing before it weighs any further on the rest of the campaign.
Wilfred Ndidi, the captain, and his team-mates are operating in a context where the slightest slip would make qualification significantly steeper.
AFCON 2027 in their sights
Nigeria are aiming for AFCON 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Tanzania, their opponent in this gathering, are therefore doubly concerned. Every point taken in these qualifiers brings the Super Eagles closer to a continental tournament that, for now, remains a target to be secured.
The schedule demands a full haul at home before going to take on the Tanzanians on their own soil, a sequence that could weigh heavily on the rest of Nigeria’s campaign.