Former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has reacted to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw, which placed Nigeria in Group D alongside World Cup qualification foes Rwanda and Benin.
The Super Eagles will navigate a group consisting of Rwanda, Benin, and Libya in their quest to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
Adepoju, who has played in both the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, believes Nigeria will qualify for the tournament but warns it won't be as easy as it used to be.
Super Eagles need to step up in the AFCON qualifiers
“I think it is a very good group. Normally, when we have teams like that, we always think it is an easy group, not too hard or tough in the past. But now, they (Rwanda and Benin) are known enemies. It should make us work harder so that we beat them,” Adepoju told Afrik-Foot.com
“We should not have issues with the games against Rwanda and Benin in the World Cup qualifiers and still struggle against them in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
“They are known enemies in the group except Libya. We have recently played Benin in the World Cup qualifiers, and we know them now.
“We know the danger that they can pose, so we just have to take everything very seriously and do everything possible to ensure that we beat them in the AFCON qualifiers.
“We just have to beat them. We are going to meet them twice this year. We cannot lose again to Benin, and we have to be careful about Libya too.”
The former Real Sociedad midfielder also said the results against Rwanda and Benin will significantly influence the Super Eagles' World Cup aspirations when the qualifiers resume next year.
AFCON qualification showing will be a reflection of World Cup qualifiers
“I think it is important that we beat them in the AFCON qualifiers first. Going into the World Cup qualifiers, if we are able to win all the games, we should be able to qualify,” Adepoju said.
“But the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda are very important to our World Cup dreams.
“We should not take any game lightly because the games against the two countries (Rwanda and Benin) will be a reflection of what will happen in the World Cup qualifiers. We have to take these games very seriously,” he added.
Nigeria are in fifth place in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers with three points. Rwanda and Benin, who are in Nigeria’s AFCON qualifying group, are first and third in the group, respectively.
