Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, says the team is under pressure to win against South Africa and Benin Republic in their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.
Ndidi acknowledged the importance of the games in an interview with Arise TV on Monday.
“Yeah they (the games) are really important because we know where we stand at the moment. it’s not a good position, to be honest, we should be honest with ourselves.
“As long as you’re in that group you want to qualify so there are no small country or small team.
“Where we are at the moment gives us more pressure, because these games are must-win games. I’m not saying we will win the game but I’m saying they are must-win games because we don’t know what’s going to happen but it all bores down to us as a team because we know what is at hand and then we know we have to get as much as we can in these two games just to go up there,” Ndidi said.
The Leicester City star however recognized the task ahead of new head coach, George Finidi.
“I would say congratulations to him because he’s been part of the team for months now and I think him coming into that role as a manager, I think it is a big one for him.
“But you know when we played in the friendly game in Morocco against Ghana and Mali, I really felt bad for him because he was alone and there was no assistant no one to help him. He was basically conducting the training, doing the tactics, even doing games and conducting the warm-up and I think you know we as a group and then seeing him going through all this and still confident with the team it is amazing because with little help from other people coming in I think he’s going to do well.”
Nigeria currently sits third in Group C of the qualifiers, after 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. They will play South Africa on June 7 and Benin on June 10.
“Nigeria comes first, that’s what I expect from every player I invite. You have to be playing in your club, and you must have the commitment.
“The first targets are to qualify for the World Cup and AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations), and a win over South Africa will set the tone.” Ndidi concluded.
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