Nigeria’s vice-captain William Troost-Ekong said they are targeting to beat Sao Tome and Principe in the final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as a gift for the country’s new Minister of Sports Development.
Senator John Enoh was appointed as Nigeria’s 36th Minister of Sports Development by President Bola Tinubu in August and Jose Peseiro’s team are set to welcome him at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.
Although Nigeria have qualified for next year’s AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast Troost-Ekong highlighted the importance of Sunday’s game as Nigeria prepare to start their qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in November.
“Yes, we have already qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, but we want to win this match for a number of reasons,” Troost-Ekong told journalists on Friday.
“We have a new Minister of Sports Development who has hit the ground running. It is good to welcome him with a great win.
“We also need to sustain a winning mentality ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting in November. So, we are not going to be taking this game as a dead-rubber or whatever people choose to call it. It is another important match as far as we’re concerned.”
Nigeria need at least a point against Sao Tome and Principe to cement the status as Group A leaders ahead of Guinea-Bissau.
