Super Eagles captain William Ekong has emphasized the team’s determination to secure a crucial victory in their 2026 World Cup qualifying matchday six clash against Zimbabwe.
A win on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo would see the Super Eagles climb to nine points, strengthening their chances of securing a World Cup ticket.
Speaking on Monday, Ekong reaffirmed that the three-time African champions aim to dominate the game as they did in their 2-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali last Friday.
He assured reporters that the team would put in the effort needed to find the back of the net and claim all three points, solidifying their position as strong contenders in the qualifiers.
“We are looking forward to a win. The three points are important to us. At this stage, we cannot afford to drop any more points.
“Our aim is to take it one match at a time, collect three points here and there and hope fervently that these will be enough to get us the ticket.”
Without a win in their first four games of the series, Nigeria languished in fifth place in the six-team Group C and remained in a perilous situation.
However, Friday’s robust win over Rwanda in Kigali threw them up as a proposition for the ticket to the finals.
Nigeria, with six points, moved up to fourth position, while Zimbabwe, on three, propped up the table and will seek to increase their haul in Tuesday’s encounter.
The Warriors’ 45-man contingent, led by the ZIFA Vice President, Kennedy Ndebele, landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on Friday afternoon.
This was about an hour after the arrival of the Super Eagles’ contingent from Kigali.
While the Warriors trained at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday morning, the Super Eagles trained at the same venue in the evening.
The team training was observed by some members of the NFF Executive Committee, the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, and SSA to Mr President, Anthony Adeboye.
Others were the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey; former NFF General Secretary Musa Amadu; and some officials of the NSC and the NFF.
World football governing body FIFA has appointed Eritrean official Teklu Mogos Tsegay as the referee for the match.
Tsegay will be assisted by his compatriots, who will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2, and fourth official.
Ghana’s Prosper Harrison Addo has been designated as the match commissioner, while Burkina Faso’s Paulin Ilboudo will take on the role of referee assessor.
Meanwhile, Group C leaders South Africa, with 10 points, will face second-placed Benin Republic, who have eight points, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan. The match will kick off simultaneously with the Super Eagles’ clash in Uyo.
Lesotho, currently in fifth place after their loss to South Africa on Friday, will take on Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali in the final Group C fixture.
