Nigeria face Cape Verde in a must-win qualifier in Lagos

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will on Tuesday face the blue sharks of Cape Verde at the Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos with the knowledge that avoiding a loss in the game will secure their place in the playoffs spots of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The three-time African champions were the favourites before the start of the qualification series but a shock loss to Central Africa Republic in October suggested that they may have to be wary of the minnows and subsequently put their qualifiers in a fragile mode.

However the results did not mean that the Gernort Rohr tutored side relinquished their table top position but they have regained momentum by beating the Central African Republic in the second leg and also beating Liberia 2-0 in their most recent match in Tangiers, Morocco on Saturday.

Nigeria will have the opportunity of fielding Odion Ighalo who has returned to the national team albeit it looks as though the manager would go with Napoli striker Victor Osihmen who scored a penalty in the 2-0 victory against Liberia at the weekend.

Cale Verde know they would have it all to do in Lagos as they know that nothing but a victory would keep their hopes of playing at their first ever FIFA World Cup alive.

The Blue Sharks are two points behind Nigeria and will have to record a first ever win over the Super Eagles to top and move into the next round.

In the previous two games between both sides has been a draw and a 2-1 win for Nigeria in the first leg.

Meanwhile, there are other World Cup playoffs spots determining games on Tuesday as well. Algeria will host Burkina Faso to decide who goes through while one of Cameroon and Ivory Coast will drop when they face tomorrow.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu