Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau, has assured the Nigerian public that the Super Eagles will approach their upcoming match against Sao Tome and Principe with full seriousness, despite already securing qualification for the 2024 AFCON.
The Super Eagles are set to face Sao Tome and Principe in a 2024 AFCON qualifier, which is considered a dead rubber match, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo this Sunday.
On Thursday, Gusau gave this assurance to a delegation from the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Abuja under the leadership of National President Isaiah Benjamin.
Following the visit, the NFF President informed reporters that the Federation is committed to leaving no stone unturned in securing victory for the team.
“I want to assure you by the grace of God, in spite of the fact that we have already qualified for the AFCON, we still have the integrity to protect Nigeria and Nigerians,” Gusau stated. “I know the players also have that at the back of their minds, and by the grace of God, we are going to come out victorious on Sunday, Insha Allah.”
Gusau further emphasised that the match also serves as preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to commence in November.
“As you are aware, the coach has invited the best players for the match, which some people were questioning,” he noted. “But don’t forget we still have a very big task ahead of us, which is the World Cup qualifiers, starting in November. After this match, we won’t have any time to bring the Super Eagles players together again.”
He stressed the importance of having the best team at the coach’s disposal for the World Cup qualifiers, given the tight schedule.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to begin their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho on November 13.
SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin expressed the purpose of their visit, which was to strengthen the collaboration between the NFF and SWAN. He acknowledged Gusau’s positive track record in football circles and emphasised SWAN’s commitment to providing professional and balanced coverage of NFF’s activities. Benjamin also stressed the importance of collective efforts to elevate football in Nigeria to new heights.
