Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has urged his teammates to maintain focus in their World Cup qualifying clash against Rwanda on Saturday.
Ekong will lead the team out against the Amavubi at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in a bid to get their campaign on track after a disastrous start.
The Super Eagles need to win to revive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in 2026.
Ekong, who is the team’s captain in the absence of Ahmed Musa, said the players are aware of the importance of victory against Rwanda.
He said: ”The players are very focused, we are really prepared for the game on Saturday and I want to thank them for their support. I want to ask them to continue to encourage us and be praying for us.
“It’s going to be an important set of games for us starting on Saturday, we know the gravity of this game (against Rwanda), we are going to focus on preparations which will be left for us.”
The former Watford defender also showered praises on Brentford defender Benjamin Frederick, who impressed in his Super Eagles debut against Jamaica in May.
Ekong said: “Benjamin is a humble, hardworking, very talented defender, I think we are all impressed with what he showed us in the Unity Cup, to come in and play so well is not easy at all.
“Also credit to my teammate Moses Simon for giving him the opportunity, bringing him to his academy before he went to Brentford. It is something we love to see, we have a talented player that will be the future of the Super Eagles defence.”
Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle now has a full contingent of players in camp after the likes of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Raphael Onyedika, and Christantus Uche all breezed into camp on Wednesday evening.
The match against Rwanda is slated for 5pm at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
The Super Eagles currently occupy the fourth position in Group C with seven points from six games after winning just one, drawing four, and losing one.
In the other Group C encounter on Friday, Benin Republic will take on Zimbabwe while South Africa will be in action against Lesotho.
