Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen have promised to leave it all on the pitch for Nigeria as they host Ghana in the second leg of their qualifiers on Tuesday.
The first leg of their playoff fixture ended 0-0 in Kumasi, Ghana, after both sides failed to make anything of the few chances they created at the Baba Yara stadium.
It was a game of defensive solidity but not much happened in attack for both teams, leaving it open for the second leg in Abuja, Nigeria at the Moshood Abiola Stadium. The away goals rule will be in place during the gamea, which makes it Ghana's match to lose.
Both strikers featured in the first leg and were ecstatic to return to the squad after missing out on the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon last January due to unforeseen circumstances.
That miss has spurred both strikers on to make it to the World Cup with Nigeria in order to play at a tournament for the Super Eagles.
“These games are the biggest games of my life and my career. We must go all out for our country. It's do or die. Players must be ready to drop our blood and sweat on the pitch to qualify for the World Cup,” Dennis told BBC Sport Africa ahead of the fixture against Ghana.
“I've never thought in my head that we didn't qualify. Impossible. If I'm going to die on the pitch, let me die playing for my people.
“You play this tournament one time every four years, and before the four years, you don't even know what can happen. You can even die before the next one.
“You might not even be playing football. So many things can happen. So, if you get the opportunity, you need to write history. We have to come out and give everything.
“We don't need all the criticism as we must all come together as one to support the players, the country and make sure we are the ones going to the World Cup and not our opponent.”
Meanwhile Osimhen is calmer going into the tie but shares Dennis' sentiments about leaving it all on the pitch for the Super Eagles and their fans.
“The expectation is high, and we are really looking forward to getting the win. But it won't be easy,” Osimhen said to BBC Sport Africa.
“The Ghanaians also have quality players and we respect them as a team and as a nation. But I think we have a lot of good, quality players – more than them – that can get the job done.
“We have team and individual quality. And I am really looking forward to this encounter. And of course, we're playing at home with our fans behind us and I think we will come out victorious.
“The support we're going to get from them [the Super Eagles fans] is going to be overwhelming. And of course, with this right frame of mind and attitude going into the game, I think with them, with their support, I think we can come out victorious, too.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago
