Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will stick with largely the same starting lineup that defeated Rwanda 1-0 in Uyo in today’s world cup qualifiers game against South Africa, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Chelle explained after the nervy win against Rwanda on Saturday that his team started with a 4-4-2 diamond formation, before switching to a flat 4-4-2 without the diamond in the second half using traditional wingers.

For today’s game Chelle will maintain the diamond formation using almost the same set of players who prosecuted the second half, with Tolu Arokodare who was introduced as a substitute in the win starting as the arrow head in attack.

Crystal Palace new signing Uche Chrisantus is pushing to start but face stiff competition from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who had an above average performance when he was introduced as a substitute.

Other than the two who are pushing for the same spot, Chelle is expected to start with the same back four, but has reservation over playing Bruno Onyemaechi against high flying South Africa winger Mohau Nkota.

Stanley Nwabali will start in goal despite reports of death threats sent to him by some South Africans, where he ply his trade with top division side Chippa United.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Players of the senior national team of Nigeria have been backed by the coach of South Africa Hugo Broos on the poor state of the Toyota Stadium, which will host today’s world cup qualifiers game between both countries, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria will be up against the group leaders on a pitch that handles more rugby games than international football matches, and players of the team have been left shell shock by the poor state of the pitch.

Right full back Ola Aina made a video of the pitch after they arrived for training, lamenting the decision by FIFA to accept a pitch of that nature to handle a high profile game.

Broos was also vocal about the abysmal state of the pitch. ” “I have said already before, I am not happy with the pitch either,” Broos told reporters about the venue for Nigeria vs South Africa game.

“There were people that blamed me that I didn’t want to play here [Free State Stadium], this is stupid. This is nonsense, we would like to have a very good pitch like we had before.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Players of the senior national team of Nigeria have voiced their unhappiness over the poor state of the venue for today’s world cup qualifiers game against South Africa, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The game will be played at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, a pitch that is not among the top five in the country and its synonymous for hosting Rugby games, more than that football matches.

Players of the Nigerian team were shocked upon arriving at the stadium, with Ola Aina leading the call to FIFA on the poor state of the pitch with a video on his social media handles. ” FIFA approved this stadium for a game like this ?. They know what they are doing”, he said.

Defender Chidozie Awaziem was also not left out saying it’s unthinkable that a world cup qualifiers will be played on a bad pitch like this ” In a FIFA organised tournament. How is this pitch suitable for games?”.

Reigning Africa player of the year Ademola Lookman was seen in a video lamenting a patch on the pitch, saying it’s enough to cause an ankle injury if any player mistakenly steps his foot there.

Head coach of Nigeria’s host South Africa Hugo Broos was also vocal about the abysmal state of the pitch. ” “I have said already before, I am not happy with the pitch either,” Broos told reporters about the venue for Nigeria vs South Africa game.

“There were people that blamed me that I didn’t want to play here [Free State Stadium], this is stupid. This is nonsense, we would like to have a very good pitch like we had before.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria were pushed into having a light warm up session at their hotel premises ahead of tomorrow’s world cup qualifiers game against South Africa, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Fresh from beating Rwanda 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, the team arrived South Africa for their next game in the series late due to a delay in granting them a landing permit for the private aircraft that conveyed them.

They had a stop over in Angola to refuel, before proceeding to South Africa where they once again experienced a delay that made them to spend two hours at the airport undergoing passport checks and other immigration procedure.

After the conclusion of that at the airport, they drove for over an hour the their hotel around 6:30pm, and were told the stadium won’t be available for them to have a brief session.

However they will have a feel of the stadium later today, but prior to that evening session which is expected to be light they had a warm up session to relax their muscles before heading out for full training by 6pm Nigerian time.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr is confident that the senior national team of Nigeria won’t lose tomorrow’s world cup qualifiers game against South Africa, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Rohr whose team Benin Republic are five points behind the leaders South Africa, who are facing the prospect of a three points, three goals deduction for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho in March.

Tomorrow they will be up against the Super Eagles of Nigeria who are third and six points behind at their home ground in Bloemfontein. Rohr is sure that his former side won’t lose to their host because of the nature of the game.

” I know the Nigerian team very well because most of the players were with me during my time as coach. They know how to rise to the occasion against top sides like South Africa. The best result for my team will be a draw but I know Nigeria won’t lose in South Africa on Tuesday”, he said after his team’s 1-0 win over Zimbabwe on Friday.

He went further to call on FIFA to implement the three points, three goals deduction on South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho during the round of games in March. A fate he suffered during his time as coach of Nigeria in the world cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria, after Shehu Abdullahi who was supposed to be suspended played in the dead rubber game.

” South Africa won against Lesotho? Okay, but the match that matters is the first leg, where they have to lose the three points. It’s very clear. The rules are very, very clear. We don’t know why FIFA and CAF haven’t yet decided to take the points away from them. It’s not normal. We don’t know where we stand .”

He added: ” We have 11 points after this match today. South Africa has to lose three points and then we will be only two points behind our opponent. What are they waiting for? I don’t know. It’s INCOMPREHENSIBLE .”

Coach of the senior national team of South Africa Hugo Broos resorted to divinity as his side chase a world cup ticket to the 2026 tournament which will be held in USA, Mexico and Canada.

Broos side will head into tomorrow’s game against Nigeria looking for a win to seal their spot at the tournament, but the coach is aware that they will be docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March.

They both themselves in a very commanding position with the 3-0 win over Lesotho on Friday, further cementing their position as the group leaders heading into the final three games of the series.

However the three goals and three point deduction if applied as expected by FIFA will mean, they won’t be through to the World Cup even if they are able to beat Nigeria in tomorrow’s crunch tie. A situation that has made Broos to seek divine help.

“If God is for us. Then maybe we can qualify next Tuesday for the world cup and that stays as a goal for us . We are in a good situation. We have everything in our hands. So it’s up to us now to finish”, he said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will likely make two changes to the team that started the 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo on Saturday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The coach who started with a diamond 4-4-2 formation against Rwanda, but switched to a 4-4-2 flat in the second half will most definitely make one change following the injury to top striker Victor Osimhen.

Cyriel Dessers who replaced him in that game will however not get the nod from the start, with Uche Chrisantus now prime to play in that role in his first competitive game for Nigeria after making his debut at the Unity Cup, and also the friendly game against Russia.

Chrisantus who is traditionally a midfielder has played in the two man attack role for Getafe since joining the club a season ago, and it is expected that he will play the same role for his new team Crystal Palace when he resumes after the international break.

Goal scorer Tolu Arokodare will start as the arrow head of the team’s attack, stepping up from his substitute role against Rwanda. Frank Onyeka who he replaced in that game is expected to drop to the bench for tomorrow’s crucial game.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Nerves weren’t part of the bargain youngster Benjamin Frederick brought along when Rwanda called in Uyo for the crucial 2026 World Cup tie.

Confidence traded freely with the ex-junior international as he marshalled his rear area returning the signals from the defence pair, Calvin Bassey.

Keeping the rampaging Amavubis just right behind the enemy lines was indeed a sweet story Benjamin told of his second cap.

The Brentford loanee had fallen in love with the gaffer Eric Chelle as he stepped out in style and grit in the final of Unity Cup in London. The embattled Malian-French manager took his tactical bravado to dizzying heights sitting captain William Troost-Ekong out of the Uyo clash and throwing in Benjamin.

It was a huge gamble taken too far for the gaffer but the youngster returned the favours big time holding his own at the rear. The Dender of Belgium star lasted 90 minutes and even wanted more time if there was more time.

Such was the top level performance he showed that Chelle appreciated with roses and appeared he could welcome it again in Bloemfontein with tulips and daffodils.

Benjamin reprised his amazing London role in Uyo that added more admirers to his fan base as well as advancing his grip with the Super Eagles.

Two caps, two solid showings and a third in the Bloemfontein sight may have been concluded with the embattled gaffer. Troost-Ekong could well be watching from the dugout again.

The Bafana Bafana are tough customers and harder it gets with the gap in points in the log looking like flying into an unassailable lead. Benjamin will be hard pressed to impress should he get another nod.

His experience not yet mouthwatering, but Benjamin comes good with natural intelligence and brilliance. Tough on the ball and super strong to shake off the ball, Bafana Bafana frontmen may well remain boys in his sight.

Impressive ball handling plus admirable quickness, Benjamin remains a delight to watch. A consecutive gamble could decisively vindicate Chelle.

Just few months as a top professional in Belgium with six Belgian Jupiler League games under his belt, Benjamin’s inclusion may well be worth it.

Facing his first real baptism of fire, smart money is on him to push back the quick fire Bafana Bafana strikers and help earn his embattled side the victory.

As tough as the tie may seem, it remains to be seen if the Eagles’ backs will have on the wall to claim Bafana Bafana’s scalps. A slip shuts the door of the tripartite agreement in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Benjamin eyes kind fallouts from the tough encounter and nothing short of his 100 percent will do his game any good.

In truth, Troost-Ekong is getting on a bit and a few lapses on his part have hardly propelled Eagles. His replacement appears to come sooner than expected as Benjamin fits the bill nicely.

His London Unity Game outing wasn’t planned, sneaked in through the back door as injury list grew. Luckily, Eagles’ egg heads added no costs on their logistics to get the youngster in, the venue was his own ground. Benjamin appears to shun the back door for the exalted front door.

Needing no back door this time around, retiring captain and veteran Troost-Ekong could well be the biggest story eventually.

Benjamin’s Bloemfontein blues could well be the next chart burster.

Who knows?

IKENWA ASHIBUOGWU NNABUOGOR

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle took a very bold decision by deciding to drop captain of the team William Troost Ekong in yesterday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.

Chelle picked on loan Brentford defender Benjamin Fredrick ahead of the experienced defender. A decision which was not just bold, but also a huge risk considering the fact that the 20 year old hasn’t played a competitive game for Nigeria yet.

Fredrick made his debut in the Unity Cup after being drafted in to make up for the departure of some players, before the game against Jamaica in the final of the tournament.

Yesterday he however didn’t show any signs of a player making his competitive debut as he paired seamlessly with Calvin Bassey in the heart of the Super Eagles defence.

Explaining the decision, a source close to the coach said Chelle took the decision after three games with Ekong at the heart of a back four didn’t go as planned. He feels Ekong’s lack of pace has become the target of most opposing teams.

However he would have started if the coach had played with a back three. The formation he switched to in the second half upon Ekong’s introduction as they look to see off the game.

Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem would have been the next option, but his similarities with Bassey meant both can’t be played at the heart of the defence.

The coach braved all odds to pick Fredrick after a 15 minutes speech to the players, who were largely stunned when Fredrick was announced as the one to start alongside Bassey.

A decision which Chelle made fully convinced that Fredrick will produce a better performance than he did at the Unity Cup, after playing top level football for Belgium side FC Dender where he is on loan from Brentford.

He was proved right afterwards, and will now stick with the defender on Tuesday away to South Africa in a key game, hoping he keeps up his performance against the group leaders.

Players of the senior national team of Nigeria were not in any celebratory mood after beating Rwanda 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo to pick up their first win at home in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

A 51st minute goal from Tolu Arokodare settled the game in favour of the Super Eagles, putting them in a strong position ahead of Tuesday’s blockbuster game away to group leaders South Africa.

However what was supposed to be a huge win and morale booster was met with a lukewarm attitude by the players in the dressing room. They felt there was nothing to be excited about because the result didn’t have a strong impact on their position.

They instead congratulated each other on the win, and immediately switch attention to Tuesday’s game against group leaders South Africa, a tie they feel holds a significant place in their bid to make it to the 2026 World Cup.

Head coach of the team Eric Chelle was also not in any joyous mood, and after congratulating the players on the win urged them to stay motivated for the game away to South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman