By Francis Ajuonuma
Former Nigerian international goalkeeper, Patrick Udoh has warned players of the Super Eagles that they will be shooting themselves in the foot should they make the mistake of underrating Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks in today’s all important last Group C fixture of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier set for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The three -time African champions, presently lead in the group with 12 points from five matches, two points more than Cape Verdeans, who breathing at their neck with 10 points from the same number of matches played. While the visitors will be hoping to cause an upset, the coach Gernot Rohr’s tutored Super Eagles need just a point to progress into the final knockout stage which will be decided in March 2022 on home and away format.

When both sides met in the first leg at the Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena in the Island of Mindelo, Cape Verde the Nigerian team smiled home with a 2-1 victory with the first goal coming from the boot of inform victor Osimhen, while Ocha Santos’ own goal in the 76th ensured that the Eagles seal the needed three points.

However, despite leading in the group, Nigerians have not been impressed with their performances, especially after September’s home defeat suffered at the hands of less fancied Central African Republic, a performance that saw football loving Nigerians poured their anger on coach Rohr with some of them calling for his immediate sack.
Speaking exclusively to TNSports on phone from Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, the goalkeeper trainer of Lagos-based Nigeria National League (NNL) club side, Vandrezzer FC, Udoh noted that at this stage of the qualifiers, victory could go either side but the team that prepared well would carry the day.

Udoh, who was a key member of the Nigerian U-20 team at the 1983 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, pointed out that the Super Eagles should not feel that having won the first leg at away today match will be a walkover, noting that the visitors will be drawing inspiration from the Wild Beasts of Central African Republic, who came to Lagos on October 7 against all expectation to stun the Eagles.

“This match is winner takes all. Though a draw is enough for Super Eagles to scale into the final round of the qualifiers, I’m seeing the Cape Verdeans putting all they have for the match, knowing that a draw will not be enough for them, so, they will throw everything at the Eagles,” he said.

“All what the Eagles need for this match is to prepare well, because good preparation matters and they must be fully focused. They cannot afford to mistakes, as any slim could be dangerous. They should not believe that having won the first leg, the second leg will be easy. They should expect attacking football and occasional counterattack from the visitors. Rohr should ensure that the Eagles are compact in defence, well as in midfield and very clinical in the opponents’ area. So, they cannot afford to be complacent and doing that will be at their peril,” he added
Meanwhile, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, speaking ahead of the match, boasted that no matter what the visitors bring they will not escape death.

“We have a job on our hands and that is to win tomorrow. It is important to win so as to be sure of where you will be at the end of the day. We are top of the table now and a win keeps us there and sends us to the final knockout round.

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“I really don’t think we are under any pressure. We have 12 points, two more than the opponents. They are the ones with the big pressure to come out and look for a win. Our approach for tomorrow will be to win. The players are looking forward to doing that.”