Super Eagles midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi are fully motivated and ready for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda. The Nigerian national team is looking to make a strong comeback in the next international window, and both players are eager to lead the charge.
Nigeria is set to face Benin Republic on Saturday, September 7, in Uyo, followed by a match against Rwanda three days later. Both teams are also in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying group. The Benin Republic, coached by former Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr, had previously defeated Nigeria in their first-leg encounter in Abidjan in June.
Speaking ahead of the matches, Ndidi and Iwobi expressed their determination to turn things around for the Super Eagles. The players shared their thoughts during a discussion after their English Premier League meeting at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
“To be honest, it’s not where we want to be, so we have to regroup and correct some mistakes, then go all in those matches; we definitely need the win. They had their win in Abidjan; we see what happens in Uyo,” Leicester City midfielder Ndidi said via the Super Eagles’ official social media account.
Iwobi, who scored the winning goal for Fulham in their 2-1 victory over Leicester, echoed Ndidi’s sentiments. He is optimistic that the team’s players can carry their club form into the national side.
“We have a lot to prove. I always say we have a lot of quality in the team, and hopefully, we can get the points we need to qualify because it’s something we want to achieve,” Iwobi said. “The same way the fans demand is how we demand from ourselves too as players; we know how we do it for our club sides; we just want to do that consistently for Nigeria as well.”
Despite the players’ readiness, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has yet to appoint a permanent coach for the Super Eagles, with less than two weeks before the crucial matches. The team has been without a head coach since Finidi George resigned following Nigeria’s disappointing performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.
There are ongoing speculations about potential candidates for the coaching role, with Swedish manager Janne Andersson and former Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard being linked to the position. As the clock ticks down, the NFF will need to make a decision to ensure the Super Eagles are fully prepared for the challenges ahead.
