Group winners Nigeria and final-day opponents Rwanda on Friday both landed at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo ahead of Monday’s Matchday 6 clash.
The encounter scheduled to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium is the concluding round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
Deflated but not altogether supine, the Amavubi still have a mathematical chance of qualifying, though the supposition is not actually in their favour.
They missed a big opportunity to enhance their chances after losing at home to Libya’s Mediterranean Knights on Thursday and can only make it to Morocco 2025 if they defeat Nigeria in Uyo.
The Amavubis would also be hoping that Libya are victorious against Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in North Africa on Monday.
The Super Eagles, confirmed group winners, have nothing to chase other than national pride.
They will play a more relaxed game against the visitors than the turgid contest with the Cheetahs at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday night.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s delegation flew from the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, to Uyo aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft, arriving at 3.50 p.m.
Rwanda’s delegation flew from Kigali to Lagos aboard a regular Rwandair flight, arriving at 1pm, before boarding an Ibom Air flight to Uyo. They landed in Uyo just before 5 p.m.
A carnival atmosphere is expected at Uyo’s magnificent Godswill Akpabio Stadium as the Super Eagles celebrate for 90 minutes and afterwards with the AFCON ticket long in the bag.
Both countries battled to a scoreless draw in their first confrontation in Kigali in September, though the jury is still out on Ademola Lookman’s first-half headed goal that was inexplicably chalked off by the Moroccan referee.
Incidentally, another Moroccan will be in the role of referee on Monday; 44-year-old Samir Guezzaz takes the stage in the centre at the game that kicks off at 5 p.m.
Guezzaz, along with his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi (assistant 1), Abdessamad Abertoune (assistant 2), and Kech Chaf Mustapha (fourth official), are scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday.
Also expected are Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana (commissioner) and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia (referee assessor).
(NAN)
