Luxembourg vs Nigeria: Eagles keen to keep buzz alive

Nigeria will play Luxembourg for the first time in international football as they continue their build-up to the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

The three-time African champions sealed a 1-0 win over Mali in Rouen on Friday thanks to Kelechi Iheanacho’s 77th minute strike, and they face the Red Lions who are desperate for a win.

The game billed for the Josy Barthel Stadium was brought forward 24 hours because of the hosts’ participation in the Tour de France cycling competition.

Luc Holtz’s men are winless in their last three games, and a win against the Super Eagles would help boost their confidence ahead their World Cup qualifier against Latvia in September.

The hosts last won a game in November 2015 when they defeated Greece 1-0 in a friendly match with Aurélien Joachim getting the lone strike.

Like the Luxembourgers, Nigeria will return to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September – though will not make it to Gabon 2017 after surrendering the ticket to Egypt. Should Salisu Yusuf’s ward triumph at Josy Barthel, it would be the Eagles’ third victory from seven games in 2016.

“We are set for the game and we hope to continue from where we stopped against Mali,” assistant coach Kennedy Boboye told Goal.

“Before leaving Nigeria, we planned to win both games and having secure victory against the Malians, we hope to complete the job against Luxembourg.”

The Super Eagles camp welcome back William Troost-Ekong who was excused for a crucial game for his club,  FK Haugesund.

And with no injury doubts in the Eagles’ nest, they could secure their second win at a bounce against the Europeans ranked 146th in the world.