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Sports News of Saturday, 27 March 2021

Source: www.today.ng

AFCONQ: Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen lead Super Eagles attack vs Benin

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Leicester City of England inform-striker, Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Osimhen are expected to lead Super Eagles’ attack against the Squirrels of Benin in today’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game against the Squirrels of Benin.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to face the Squirrels of Benin Republic at the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto-Novo this weekend.

The duo paired each other during the team training and showed perfect understanding.

Iheanacho is the team’s most in-form striker at the moment with seven goals in his last four appearances for Premier League club, Leicester City.

Osimhen, despite his struggles at Serie A club Napoli is the leading scorer in the qualifiers with four goals.

Nigeria’s contingent for the all-important qualifying match hit the tiny West African nation yesterday with much buzz, glitz and glitter, arriving at the Porto Novo Jetty in half a dozen boats across the waterways from Lekki, Nigeria.

Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin Republic, Ambassador Olawale Awe, led mission staff to receive the team and then accompanied them to Cotonou. The Super Eagles will ride by bus to Porto Novo this morning and return to Cotonou after the match.

The three-time champions Nigeria could make sure of a 19th appearance at African football’s flagship tournament if Sierra Leone and Lesotho are locked in a stalemate in their early game in Maseru slated for today. But the Eagles are insisting on focusing on their own game and result rather than wait for help from one bumpy pitch in southern Africa.

Meanwhile, Squirrels of Benin Republic striker, Steve Mounie, says they are fired up for the game against Nigeria, insisting that they are not scared of Super Eagles.

“We all feel very good, very happy to have been able to travel, to come to the country to help the nation to qualify for the 2021 AFCON,” Mounie told newsmen.

“We trained well this week and we are ready for this match. The ideal scenario would be for Lesotho and Sierra Leone to play a draw. And that we will only have to draw or win against Nigeria to qualify”

The Brest of France striker however lamented the absence of fans for the game.

“For us, it is a handicap to play without the fans. We know that they are always behind us and that they support us strongly during our home matches,” Mounie added.

“They are really the twelfth man, not having them with us, we’ll miss that for sure. We hope that they will support us in front of their TV, pray for us and that we will all qualify together.