As the verisimilitude of the occasion descended on every one of the players on the Stade Linite turf in Victõria on Saturday afternoon, the outcome of the tepid showdown could only mean one thing for both sides.

The Super Eagles, after losing 2-0 to South Africa needed a sound response here, and of course a 3-0 win, literally should be viewed a statement victory.

In all due respect, Seychelles are no footballing superpowers (they have not won any of their last 16 international games) and are not so expected to qualify from CAF's Group E, a pool which they share alongside Nigeria as well as South Africa.

It made for sorry viewing to see the style in which the East African nation crumbled, like a pack of cards versus their opponents right from the blast of David Omweno's whistle.



Their vivid problems ranged from struggling to cope with the pace  of Samuel Kalu and Musa while their midfield was no match to duel Wilfred Ndidi, and even the jittery Ogenyi Onazi — the Pirates mishaps took the semblance of a team merely fulfilling a passion-less obligation.

As such, one can only conclude that the encounter though a good one for the new string of invited Eagles but in all sincerity, did little to stretch the team to its limits no thanks to the below-par quality of opposition.