Osihmen, Lookman, Dennis, others might be playing their first world cup in November if…

By 6pm today, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be engaging their Ghanaian counterparts, the Black Stars at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja for one of the tickets to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

In the first leg played in Kumasi, Ghana, the Super Eagles forced the Ghanaians to a goalless draw despite the tricks adopted and pressure mounted by the Ghanaians right from the airport to the mainbowl of the Baba Yara stadium.

However, if the Eagles eventually win the second leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, some players might just be appearing at the world cup for the first time.

The likes of Victor Osihmen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Emmanuel Dennis, Olaoluwa Aina, Akinkunmi Amoo, Onyeka, Maduka Okoye, Aribo, and a host of others who might be included later.

However, players like Kelechi Iheanacho, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, Shehu Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Odion Ighalo, Kenneth Omeruo, Ahmed Musa, were at the last world cup in Russia but some of them might be going to their last world cup in Qatar.

Players like Odion Ighalo, Kenneth Omeruo, Ahmed Musa might retire or be forced to retire from national team because of their age difference. The players are in their late thirties and might not be invited by the team selectors or coaches in future.

So, the pressure will be on the likes of Victor Osihmen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Emmanuel Dennis, Olaoluwa Aina, Onyeka, to perform when given the opportunity because they will like to experience life at the world cup for the first time.

While players like Kelechi Iheanacho, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, Shehu Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo who have tasted life at the last world cup, will also want to be in the next one hence the reason why they will want to give their best against Ghana tonight.

And for the likes of Odion Ighalo, Kenneth Omeruo, Ahmed Musa, who might be calling it quit after the world cup in Qatar, will also want to end their careers well by going to the next world cup in Qatar. Whether they are given opportunity to play tonight or not, what will be on their mind is for the Eagles to qualify. In fact, they might turn prayer warriors before and during the match.

So, the ball is in the court of the Super Eagles to perform, both for those who are yet to feature at the world cup and for those who have been there before. In other words, they are hell-bent to perform tonight and grab the world cup ticket from the desperate Ghanaians.