Reykjavik, Iceland – Dem no fit hold dem back any longer! This Friday, Iceland and Azerbaijan go face to face for World Cup Qualifying wey don finally come around. As dem dey prepare to kick off dem campaign, e be like say both teams no dey in top shape at all. Na this same Iceland wey don make big waves in football just few years back, but now, e don japa from dem glory days.
Once upon a time, Iceland dey make headlines after dem beat England for Euro and even draw with Argentina for World Cup, but as e be now, dem don dey waka back to dem usual level. As we dey enter this qualifier, dem dey sit for the bottom of Group D, alongside their fellow underperformers, Azerbaijan. I go like to see which team fit carry this victory, because no one suppose carry bottom wey no get shine!
On the other hand, Azerbaijan dey face wahala too. Dem no fit win any competitive match since 2023, and na dem poor form carry dem enter League D of UNL, after dem sabi chop plenty goalless draws and losses. Talk say dem just defeat small Haiti and Belarus – that one no sweet for ear at all. Coach still dey try jupi jupi for dem squad, but nothing wey dey work. Na wah!
As we dey look the lineups, Iceland dey survive without some key players. Hordor Magnusson dem no bring am because e no fit find club, and dem also dey miss injury ogbonna wey don disturb dem midfield. But dem get some young talents wey dey push for chance, like Gudjohnsen wey sabi score shine. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan dey carry their old soldiers enter battle, but wetin dem go fit do against Iceland wey get better talent on paper?
But no be only Iceland and Azerbaijan wey go play for this match. For another side, big team like France dey prepare to face Ukraine, for another qualifying match – e go sharp as dem dey start dem campaign. France dey feature some of dem old boys like Mbappe and Dembele, while Ukraine dey try find wetin dere for ground despite dem injuries. E be like say na only magic go fit help dem survive this encounter.
Overall, Saturday go be serious affair as both teams go want show say dem fit perform well. But if dem no take am easy, e fit end for any side, because we no sabi wetin fit happen when dem dey under pressure. But one thing we know be say, football dey sweet when e get small suspense!
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