West Bromwich Albion center-back Semi Ajayi have stated that his side firmly believe they will avoid relegation to the Premier League at the end of the season.
The Super Eagles star has been in good shape for the Baggies this season with his solid defensive performances, scoring three goals for the club in 25 games.
Despite his efforts, West Brom remains in 19th place in the Premier League with 18 points from 29 games.
Ajayi is optimistic that by the end of the 2020-21 campaign the Baggies can maintain their top English status.
“It’s not easy. We’re desperate right now and need points as soon as possible,” Ajayi told BBC Sport Africa.
“I would say everyone wrote us off, but we definitely haven’t really written off ourselves. We’re still fighting, we still haven’t given up.
“We still have faith, we still have hope and it’s all about playing one game at a time. If we give it our all and see where it takes us. Hopefully that will keep us in the Premier League, but we have it definitely not.” given up.”
Nigeria will face the Republic of Benin in the 2022 African Nations Cup qualifier at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo on Saturday.
The Super Eagles will then play their final Afcon qualifier against Lesotho on Tuesday at Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Ajayi, who is part of Gernot Rohr’s 24-man team, has shown that his team is well prepared for the game.
“We are very well prepared, we have been in these preparations since November to essentially get the job done. I think everyone is itching to get out there and qualify this nation for the Afcon,” added Ajayi.
Beating Benin will secure Nigeria’s place in the biennial tournament in Cameroon and they will face Lesotho in their final qualifier in Lagos on Tuesday.
In the last edition of the continental tournament in Egypt, the Super Eagles finished third behind the winners Algeria and Senegal.
