Super Eagles focused on Rwanda before South Africa clash — Ekong
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong says the team remains fully focused on Saturday’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda’s Amavubi in Uyo, rather than looking ahead to the high-profile clash with South Africa in Bloemfontein next week.
“You take one step at a time. We have Rwanda to play on Saturday, and there are three points at stake. After that, we can begin to think about South Africa. That is also another important three points, but Rwanda comes first,” Ekong said on Thursday.
Nigeria has endured a difficult qualification campaign so far, failing to win any of their first four matches. However, Ekong expressed confidence that the squad can still secure qualification for the expanded 48-team finals in North America next summer.
“We will do our very best to go all out and win the remaining four matches. Hopefully, that will be enough to take us there,” the captain assured.
Saturday’s fixture against Rwanda, whom Nigeria last faced in Kigali during Matchday 5, is a Matchday 7 encounter, while the trip to South Africa follows on Matchday 8.
Ekong also drew lessons from Nigeria’s 1998 World Cup experience, when the Super Eagles were eliminated 4-1 by Denmark in the Round of 16 after losing focus on the immediate task at hand. “Nigeria should learn to count one before four,” Danish winger Brian Laudrup remarked after that game.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian camp reached full strength on Wednesday with the arrivals of midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Christantus Uche, alongside forwards Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Tolu Arokodare.
