Super Eagles star Awaziem admits Cape Verde will be a tough nut to crack

Super Eagles star Chidozie Awaziem has admitted before Tuesday evening's 2022 World Cup qualifier that Cape Verde will be a tough nut to crack.

The former Porto defender knows some of the Cape Verde players with as many as eight players named on their roster representing Portuguese clubs.

A center back and right-back, Awaziem is in strong contention to make his first start in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with defenders Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Tyronne Ebuehi and Ola Aina not available for selection.

The Boavista star underlined that the Super Eagles have no excuses not to beat Cape Verde despite the playing conditions.

Speaking to reporters after the national team's last workout, Awaziem stated : "The atmosphere is a bit hot, pitch is synthetic, but we have no excuses, we just go there, do the job and try to get the three points.

"No team in Africa is easy, we have to respect them because it's a country that wants to qualify also.

"It is going to be a difficult game . Most of the players play in Portugal and want to qualify for the World Cup so it's not going to be an easy game".

Awaziem was a member of the Super Eagles squad to the 2018 World Cup but was a non-playing substitute in the three group games against Croatia, Iceland and Argentina.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel