AFCON 2021 Qualifier: Everywhere is Home to Super Eagles – Babafemi Raji

 

AFCON 2021 Qualifier: Everywhere is Home to Super Eagles – Babafemi Raji  

By Taofeek LAWAL The new media officer of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Babafemi Raji, has expressed optimism that the senior national football team will excel against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in a double-header 2021 AFCON qualifiers which will hold in November, BSNsports.com.ng reports. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has named the newly renovated Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium (SOS), Benin City as the venue of the AFCON Match Day 3 qualifier. Nigerians, however, have expressed reservations about the 19,500 capacity Ogbemudia Stadium which last hosted a national team game between Nigeria and Botswana way back in 2011. The football-loving Nigerians queried why a match of such magnitude should be taken to ‘an away ground’ when the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba and the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo have become familiar ground of the Super Eagles. Raji however called on Nigerians to put their minds at rest and believes that the Super Eagles will win their games anywhere in Nigeria be it North, South, East or West as long as it is called home. He said the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium has one of the best pitches in the country and the fact that the players are not really familiar with the pitch will not stop them from defeating their opponents on the match day. He however expressed optimism that Nigeria will get the maximum six points against the Sierra Leoneans. His words, “As long as any stadium we are playing is referred to as our home ground, we are going to excel anywhere in Nigeria. The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium has one of the best pitches in the country and the Eagles will give their best as always and will not let Nigerians down.” Raji also added that the idea behind inviting more goalkeepers to the Super Eagles is to inject more competition to that department and to keep each and every goalkeeper on his toes that there is somebody who is also eyeing the number one shirt. He described CSKA Moscow of Russia winger, Chidera Ejuke as a great and an exciting player who has “displayed the type of energy we need in the national team and I am sure he will bring that to the game when Nigeria takes on Sierra Leone in Benin City and in reverse fixture over there in Sierra Leone.” The new media officer who has been in sports journalism in the last 15 to 17 years said he will make sure that the Super Eagles soar again through positive imaging and information flow to Nigerians. “I have been on the other side but now I’m going to the main side. I want to add my own little quota to how we can make the Eagles soar again in terms of positive imaging which is very key. And like I always tell people, I just want to bring my own little bit of digital expertise … as it regards exposure, connecting the Eagles, information flow and to ensure that everybody gets to feel the players.” The Super Eagles will face the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in a double header on Friday, November 13, 2020 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City and on Tuesday November 17, 2020 in Freetown.