Having already secured qualification for the 2023 AFCON, the Super Eagles still see the game against  São Tomé and Príncipe as a must-win.

Super Eagles Captain and Defender, William Troost-Ekong has said that the game is no dead rubber and as such, the team would go at it with all importance and use it as preparation for World Cup Qualifiers.

“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. 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.”

The Super Eagles will face the bottom of the table São Tomé and Príncipe on Sunday, September 10, 2023.

Nigeria sits top of group A with 12 points and would look to go three better at 15. In Nigeria’s last meeting with São Tomé and Príncipe in June 2022, they recorded a 10-0 victory.

Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers campaign begins on Monday, November 13, 2023, against Lesotho.