After missing the 2022 World Cup party in Qatar, the Super Eagles will embark on their journey back to the Mundial, starting Thursday (today) with their first game in the qualifying series against Lesotho.

The match will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from 5pm.

After today’s game, the Eagles will travel to Southern Africa to face the Warriors of Zimbabwe at Haye Stadium, Butare, Rwanda, on Sunday.

Anticipating a successful outing today, the Nigeria Football Federation’s General Secretary, Muhammad Sanusi, had on Wednesday that the federation had prepared the team for success in the game.

He emphasised that the federation would use today’s match to prepare the national team for a strong performance at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu commented on the upcoming game, expressing confidence that the team would win if football enthusiasts, hungry for success, refrained from distracting them.

Mr Chukwu said, “The fans should refrain from criticizing the coaches and players for any decisions they make regarding team selection.

“The players need focus and the best motivation to succeed against Lesotho. Failing to qualify for the last World Cup in Qatar was a significant setback for the nation. Therefore, it is crucial that the Eagles receive support and are in the right frame of mind for these World Cup qualifying games.’’