Super Eagles will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of Group C as the team face a tough test against the Black Sharks of Cape Verde in today's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, Mindelo.
Nigeria got their 2022 World Cup campaign off to an encouraging start by beating Liberia 2-0 in their first qualifying match in Lagos last week.
Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed both goals on the day, with the result putting the team top of Group C.
On the other hand, Cape Verde took a point from their opening qualifier against the Central African Republic on 1 September. Júlio Tavares had given them an early lead but Tresór Toropité pulled one back as it ended 1-1 in Douala.
Cape Verde and Nigeria have met just once before, they played out a goalless draw in a friendly back in January 2013 but this is the first time they have met in an official competition.
Tuesday’s encounter, scheduled for the 5,000 – capacity Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, affords a number of ambitious fresh legs not deployed in Friday’s 2-0 win over Liberia in Lagos to stake claims for permanent shirts in the Nigeria squad.
Head coach Gernot Rohr will be without Friday’s two-goal hero Kelechi Iheanacho, MVP Alex Iwobi, first-choice centre-backs Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong, Rangers ace Joe Aribo, Watford star Oghenekaro Etebo, and Leicester City dynamo Wilfred Ndidi.
A win will also brighten the path of the three-time African champions to the knockout final round, given that home-and-away fixture against the Central African Republic is what is on the plate in October.
Possible Line Ups
Cape Verde possible lineup (4-3-3): Vozinha; D.Tavares, Lopes, Stopira, S.Furtado; Andrade, Ponck, Santos; Mendes, J.Tavares, A.Furtado
Nigeria’s possible lineup (4-2-3-1): Okoye; Aina, Omeruo, Awaziem, Collins; Abdullahi, Bonke; Simon, Kalu, Musa; Osimhen.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
