It’s the third game in the series for Nigeria and it will be followed by another tricky test against Benin Republic in Ivory Coast, the Squirrels adopted home ground on Monday.
With only two points from their first two matches, the Super Eagles are third in the Group behind South Africa and Rwanda, meaning Finidi’s task couldn’t have come harder, as he tries to tutor the Eagles back on track.Moreover, the Super Eagles failed to reach the last edition of the World Cup in Qatar.
The 53-year-old seems to know that nothing less than victory is acceptable in the two games, regardless of the fact that South Africa have only beaten the Eagles once in a competitive game.
“We have trained well, the players understand the task. I trust my players and their quality. It’s a must win game,” Finidi during the pre-match interview.
“The AFCON win against South Africa is gone, this is a new game. We have our plans.”
“I don’t have anything to prove. I am relaxed, it is football. I want to win, I understand the tasks. I am not scared, I played at the highest and we are going for a win.”
Finidi went on to make 62 appearances for Nigeria scoring two goals while winning the 1994 AFCON as well.Before the game against South Africa and Benin, the current crop of players in the national team have, no doubt, also tested the resolve of the ex-international with eight of them arriving camp well beyond schedule for the clashes.
The ex-international had just one session with the complete 23-man squad on Thursday, their last session before the game but he insists the team’s plans aren’t disrupted.
