Super Eagles invitee and Enyimba International shot stopper, Theophilus Afelokhai has stated that he’s eager to show that his call up to the national team was well deserved.
Afelokhai who was among the early birds to report to camp ahead of the crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa on Saturday, noted that he will not let this moment pass him by, even as he’s ready to justify his inclusion to the national team.
“I am happy to be in the midst of champions in the Super Eagles camp. The aim is to put in my best and prove my mettle in the team,” Afelokhai told Sports247.ng.
“Invitation to the Super Eagles is very competitive. I’m ready to justify my inclusion in the Super Eagles squad.”
Table–toppers Nigeria actually need just one point from Saturday’s encounter inside the FNB Stadium in Soweto, outside Johannesburg, to be sure of a slot at next year’s continental houseparty, but a combination of national pride, assumed rivalry between both teams and commitment to avenging a stinging defeat by the Bafana Bafana in Uyo 17 months ago has adorned this match with a totally different garb.
On Matchday 1 of the qualifying series, South Africa won 2-0 with goals from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau right inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, as Coach Gernot Rohr sent out a young, inexperienced Nigerian squad. However, that slap (the first ever loss to South Africa in a competitive match) stirred the formidable spirit in the Eagles and they swept all before them to earn a 2018 FIFA World Cup ticket with a match to spare.
However, the memory of that defeat has not gone away, which was why the Eagles have pulled no punches since the 2019 AFCON qualifiers resumed in September, winning all three matches to bounce to the top of the pool and standing at the door of qualification with a match to spare.
The Nigeria delegation to Saturday’s big match will depart the country aboard a chartered flight from the Benin City Airport on Thursday evening. The Eagles are expected to have a feel of the picturesque FNB Stadium on Friday afternoon by 3.30pm.
