Nigeria Technical adviser, Gernot Rohr is optimistic the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will be a good outing for the Super Eagles following his team’s qualification over the weekend.
Red Bull Salzburg loanee Enoch Mwepu has congratulated the Super Eagles for qualifying for their sixth World Cup, adding that the Zambian squad will target a place in the 2022 tournament.
Mwepu cost problems for the Nigerian defense in Saturday’s game and Cypriot-based star Abdullahi Shehu was yellow carded for bringing down the midfielder in the 63rd minute, having been warned earlier by the referee.
”The trouble with being a good sport is that you have to lose to prove it. Also, I’d like to say to everyone that if you can’t accept losing you’ll never be able to win,” Mwepu said in a statement released by the Football Association of Zambia.
”As a good sportsman, I would like to say congratulations to the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their qualification for the Russia 2018 World Cup. Go and make Africa proud.”
Mwepu added: ”I am extremely disappointed that we didn’t make it to the World Cup. However, we can only use this loss as a stepping stone to build an even better squad ready to rise to the challenge of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. The work starts now.”
However, we can only use this loss as a stepping stone to build an even better squad ready to rise to the challenge of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. The work starts now.”
In the last round of the World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles travel to Algeria next month while the Copper Bullets host Cameroon.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) leaders were ecstatic after the Super Eagles clinched qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals on Saturday.
The Super Eagles edged out Zambia 1-0 thanks to Alex Iwobi’s late goal in a Group B match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.
As a result, the NFF president Amaju Pinnick and NFF general secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi were in buoyant mood as they joined the players in celebration.
“I am short of words. Let me just say that I am very, very happy,” Pinnick told the NFF’s official website.
“This is the sixth time the Super Eagles of Nigeria is qualifying for the World Cup.
“But this one is very sweet because many referred to our section as a ‘Group of Death’,” he added.
“We have survived. We give glory to God.”
An equally joyous Sanusi said: “We are excited and as this Board has continued to promise, it is not just about qualification.
“We will ensure the best preparation for the Super Eagles team to set a new record of performance for Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup when they go to Russia next year,” he added.
Group B winners Nigeria will take on Algeria away in their last match on 6 November 2017.
Super Eagles Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi will be assessed by Leicester City after suffering a suspected hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria.
Ndidi limped off late on in the Super Eagles’ 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday, which secured Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup finals.
The 20-year-old is due back with Leicester on Tuesday where he will be assessed as the squad prepares for their Premier League clash with West Brom on Oct 16.
Nigeria insists Ndidi’s injury is not serious and, with City not playing until Monday night, it will give the Super Eagles midfielder a few more days to recover.
Any injury to Ndidi would further stretch Leicester’s already limited options in central midfield and leave only Andy King, Vicente Iborra, and Daniel Amartey as available players in that position.
Hamza Choudhury, who was nominated for Premier League 2 player of the month award for the second month in a row, could also be called on to step up.
Matty James is out with an Achilles injury, while Adrien Silva’s registration remains blocked by Fifa.
The Super Eagles are set to become the most successful African country to have participated in the Fifa World Cup after qualifying for next summer’s tournament in Russia.
Only Cameroon, with seven, has made more World Cup appearances than the Super Eagles among African teams.
The Indomitable Lions also lead the way in the points accumulated in the all-time standings with 19 points but they won’t be on the plane to Russia, paving the way for Nigeria to overtake the African champions and set a new record.
The Super Eagles have racked up 18 points across six tournaments and are need two more points to become the African kings of the World Cup.
A breakdown of their points reveals that they were awarded six points in their maiden appearance at the World Cup, six more in France 1998, while they tallied six points in total in 2002, 2010 and 2014.
The Super Eagles joint-top scorers at the global showpiece are Ahmed Musa, Kalu Uche, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amuneke.
Top Five African Teams World Cup
1) Cameroon – 19 points
2) Nigeria – 18 points
3) Ghana – 15 points
4) Algeria – 12 points
5) Ivory Coast – 10 points
6) South Africa – 10 points
7) Morocco – 10 points
Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi is in his dreamland following the qualification of the Super Eagles for the 2018 FIFA World Cup over the weekend in Uyo.
FIFA and Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) have launched an investigation into the behavior of the Copper Bullets fans during Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Zambia on Saturday evening.
FIFA is reacting to photographs showing the Zambia fans displaying a banner,’H.E. E.C. LUNGU GOD BLESS YOU’ in the stands at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, in support of ‘unpopular’ Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
The organization does not allow political messages during games, which means that Zambia could be fined by football’s governing body as a result at the end of the inquiry.
”However, keeping in mind that the rules need to be applied in a neutral and fair manner across FIFA ’s 211 member associations, the display, among others, of any political or religious symbol is strictly prohibited.
”In the stadium and on the pitch, there is only room for sport, nothing else,” chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Claudio Sulser was quoted as saying by Zambian Observer.
It is claimed that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) were not aware of the behavior of the Zambian fans in Nigeria.
Monday’s official draw for the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 mapped out the road to global glory for the seven clubs taking part in the final tournament of the year, which takes place between 6 and 16 December.
Bafana Bafana head coach Stuart Baxter has said that qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers is currently in the hands of the team.
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