Super Eagles assistant coach Daniel Ogunmodede has made it clear that Nigeria will be targeting maximum points in their upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda, Soccernet.ng reports.
With qualification within reach, Ogunmodede emphasised that the team will approach these games with a Cup-final mentality, aiming to secure six points and leave no room for complacency.
The Super Eagles currently lead Group D with 10 points after four matches, having recorded three victories and one draw.
Their position atop the group has brought them to the brink of qualification for the tournament in Morocco next year.
Although a single point from their next two games would be sufficient to secure their place in AFCON 2025, Ogunmodede insists that their ambition is to win both fixtures.
“Every match we want to approach it like a Cup final, we want to win all matches,” Ogunmodede stated in an interview with NFF TV.
“I’m not aware we needed just one point to qualify, so we just want to win regardless of the number of points left to qualify.”
Reflecting on the goals of head coach Austin Eguavoen, Ogunmodede added,
“First, the priority is for us to qualify, and secondly, according to the head coach, to win all games as they come, and a maximum of three points is what is important to us.”
Ogunmodede also expressed confidence in the recently announced 23-man squad, which includes familiar faces along with some returns from injury.
“The head coach has come up with a list, discussed with us as his backroom staff, and I think they are competent and capable to represent the country,” he said.
Among those joining the squad are Gabriel Osho, who is yet to make his Super Eagles debut, and Umar Sadiq, who has struggled in Spain since he recovered from injury.
In addition, the coach highlighted Victor Collins, a left-footed center-back from the Nigerian Premier League, who impressed Eguavoen during multiple league appearances.
“This is to show that the head coach is doing a massive job,” he explained, pointing out the meticulous scouting that has gone into building a solid squad.
The Super Eagles have already defeated Benin and drawn with Rwanda in earlier rounds, and they aim to build on these results with a strong finish in the remaining qualifiers.
