Eagles’ star strikers set to shine against Cheetahs, Amavubi

As Nigeria’s Super Eagles gear up for crucial AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda, interim coach Austin Eguavoen has every reason to be optimistic, with his star strikers Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Ademola Lookman in outstanding form.

With a combined 34 goal contributions this season, the trio stands as one of the most formidable attacking forces in African football.

The Super Eagles’ first clash will be against the Cheetahs of Benin at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday, followed by a showdown with Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Monday.

These matches will be crucial in securing Nigeria’s place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Osimhen, who recently joined Galatasaray on loan, has continued his rise with eight goals and four assists in just nine games, justifying Napoli’s €130 million valuation on the 25-year-old.

Ademola Lookman, also in stellar form, has notched eight goals and five assists this season, positioning him as a strong contender for the CAF Best Player of the Year, a title currently held by his compatriot, Osimhen.

Meanwhile, Boniface has emerged as Bayer Leverkusen’s top scorer with eight goals and an assist, taking his tally to nine goal contributions in 15 appearances.

This impressive form has cemented the Super Eagles’ attack as one of the most feared in the qualification series, with Eguavoen looking to leverage their firepower to secure victories in both fixtures.

The prospect of facing such a high-powered front line has already prompted concerns from Benin Republic’s coach, Gernot Rohr, a former Super Eagles manager, who acknowledged the formidable challenge awaiting his team.

With momentum on their side, the Super Eagles are poised to send a clear message across the continent, aiming to secure their AFCON qualification with confidence and precision.

“We see that in your list, you have Victor Osimhen, Lookman, Moses Simon, and all the big strikers. For me, Lookman is the best one in Africa to win the Golden Award for the Footballer of the Year; he is a fantastic player. But I hope he will not score against us like he did in the last game in Uyo,” he said.

Coincidentally, both Lookman and Osimhen were on target the last time Nigeria and Benin Republic squared off in the reverse fixture in July, when the three-time African champions defeated their neighbours 3-0 in Uyo.

The fixture will also provide Boniface the opportunity to end his international goal drought.

Nigeria are top of Group D with 10 points, and a win will guarantee them a spot at the next AFCON finals in Morocco, rendering the result of Monday’s game against Rwanda irrelevant.