The three-time African champions need just a point against the Blue Sharks to seal their place in the playoff round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but the ex-CSKA Moscow man insists the team will fight for a win
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has said that Nigeria will not aim for a draw when they take on Cape Verde in their final group game of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The Super Eagles host Cape Verde at the Teslima Balogun Stadium today (Tuesday), needing just a point to guarantee their place in the final playoff round.
Cape Verde can still qualify ahead of Nigeria, though, if they can pull off a shock win in Lagos. As a result, there have been suggestions that the three-time African champions will play for a draw.
However, Musa insists that the team’s focus is to get the maximum points, adding that it is important they qualify for the showpiece in Qatar.
“The WC is the biggest stage for every professional football player, Musa said in the pre-match conference.
“They all want to be there; you don’t need any more motivation than that.”
“We said after the match with Liberia in Tangier that we will not be going for a draw against Cape Verde; nothing has changed,” he added.
If the Super Eagles get the required point, they will progress to the playoff round where the ten group winners will be drawn against each other in a two-legged playoff tie to determine Africa’s representative in Qatar.