Ikechukwu Uche hopes to send Eagles through

Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche has predicted a tough match against South Africa as the Super Eagles plot to secure Group A’s second qualification ticket for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Bafana Bafana lead the group with 11 points while Nigeria displaced Congo to move to second position with seven points each but with a better head-to-head and can snatch the second qualification ticket if they beat the visitors at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo on tomorrow.

Uche scored from the penalty spot against Congo in his first game with the Eagles for almost two years as they won 2-0 in Pointe-Noire.

“The game against the Red Devils was a very difficult match for us because it was a match everybody expected us to win,” Uche said.

“This huge expectation from Nigerians propelled us to beat the Congolese despite the huge hostility from them. This we will also take to the match against South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday.

“Now we have to concentrate on beating Bafana Bafana. We won’t be deceived by the South Africans because we know that they are coming with their full squad.

“So we just need to mind our business and do our job well and win the game because that is what over 170 million Nigerians want right now.”

The Villarreal striker is aware of the enormity of the task ahead, even though the South Africans have never won a competitive game against Nigeria.

“We expect a tough game playing at home to South Africa [tomorrow] and I can tell you that it is not going to be easy. But hopefully we will come out victorious like we did against a very hostile Congo Brazzaville team,” he said.

Uche also acknowledged the fans, journalists and everyone who supported his return to the national team.

“I am very happy to be back and I dedicate my goal to all my fans in Nigeria that have supported me to this stage. I sincerely thank all Nigerians for my return to the Eagles and I will work hard on and off the field of play to repay them if possible with goals and most importantly to be a team player and make meaningful contributions to the team,” he assured.