At the start of the qualification for the World Cup 2018 in Russia one year ago, the one player who looked like a passenger in the national team of has to be Shehu Abdullahi.

However, the Anothorsis Famagusta man has since cemented the right back spot of the Super Eagles team, one area where he has been neglected in the past as coach Gernot Rohr used Kenneth Omeruo in place of him in previous games.

Yesterday Shehu proved his rating as the man for the right back spot of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, which many thought he would lose following the availability of Hull City right-back Ola Aina.

Shehu not only kept his Super Eagles spot, he was voted the Man of the Match as Nigeria progressed to the World Cup with a game to spare after beating Zambia 1-0 in Uyo yesterday.

Brila.net caught up with the former Kano Pillars defender cum midfielder, and he revealed how he rose from obscurity to becoming the first choice right back for the Super Eagles.

I think Zambia is a very good team, if you see them, you will know they are a very young team and they play good football, they came here to fight. We fought back and at the end of the day, we won. I think they are a good side.

I feel very happy about it but I feel more happy about the victory about the world cup ticket and not about the man of the match award. The most important thing yesterday was for us to get the ticket to the World Cup, the Ex-Kano pillars man said