AFCON qualifier: Osayi-Samuel arrives Eagles’ camp
…as Dele-Bashiru talks tough ahead Libya’s double header
Fenerbahce fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel has arrived Super Eagles camp in Uyo, a day before the Super Eagles will do battle with Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
There were initial worries that Osayi-Samuel would miss the October internationals as reports from Turkey indicated he was nursing an ankle injury sustained during Fenerbahce’s Europa League clash against Union Saint-Gilloise on September 26.
Jose Mourinho had omitted the Nigerian star-performer from the travelling squad to Antalyaspor, Fenerbahce’s last game in the Super Lig before the international break.
With Osayi-Samuel joining the camp, Nigeria’s coach, Augustine Eguavoen, now has a complete squad of twenty-three players, as all the players selected for the double-header have now gathered in Uyo.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has warned against complacency in prosecuting the game against Libya and believes that the Super Eagles cannot afford to underrate the Mediterranean Knights ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations cracker.
Libya have amassed just one point in their opening two games, having drawn with Rwanda in the opening fixture before losing to Benin at the Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
As a result, they sit bottom of the group and will have to avoid defeat against Nigeria to boost their chances of qualifying for the next AFCON.
With four points garnered from their opening two games, the Super Eagles sit atop Group D and will be seeking to strengthen their chances of qualifying for AFCON.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Friday’s game, Dele-Bashiru said the three-time African champions can’t afford to underestimate Libya.
“One thing I always say is you cannot overlook any team when it comes to football. It’s 11v11. If you’re not 100 percent going into the game, for sure your opponent is going to be 100% so you always have to make sure you are switched-on.
“For the game, as long as we do what the coach wants from us, as long as all the players are on the same page and we give one hundred percent, then I feel like we should win both games.
“And that should help us sit comfortably at the top of the table,” he said.
The 23-year-old Manchester City academy product will be pushing to make it back-to-back starts for the first time in his international career against the Mediterranean Knights on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.