nigeria on the brink of world cup
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Nigeria on the brink of World Cup

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Nigeria on the brink of World Cup

Nigeria fans cheer during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying football match between Nigeria and Cameroon.
Abuja - Arab Today

Nigeria host Zambia in their penultimate 2018 World Cup qualifier on Saturday knowing that victory would secure a sixth finals appearance since first qualifying in 1994.

The 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in Ndola 12 months ago helped get the country behind a team who had failed to feature at back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations.

It set the tone for the Super Eagles' excellent campaign in a tough Group B, with Nigeria not dropping points until matchday four in Yaounde.

The 1-1 draw in Cameroon, combined with Zambia winning in Algeria last month, have meant the Chipolopolo are now the only team between Nigeria and next year's tournament in Russia.

Head coach Gernot Rohr will take much of the credit for the progress the team has made since he took charge in July 2016.

The German is now only 90 minutes away from his biggest accomplishment of a career that has taken him to French club Bordeaux, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia as well as the national teams of Niger, Burkina Faso and Gabon.

He said: "It will be an interesting but difficult game against Zambia, who we beat 2-1 in Ndola (last year), but they have changed (since).

"It's an important game and we have it in our hands to win. If we have our players fit, we will be at the World Cup.

"I hope we repeat what we did against Cameroon (4-0 win in Uyo)."

The backroom staff have praised Rohr for bringing self-belief to the side, both on and off the pitch, halfway through his two-year contract.

"He has done well, bringing the German mentality and organisation to bear on the whole team," saluted former Nigeria striker Benedict Akwuegbu.

"The Eagles now play together, are tactically disciplined and they work very hard for each other.

"And he has played his best team always."

"Rohr has got the team to deliver," added sports journalist Arafat Aliu.

"He understands some of the politics in Nigeria and this has helped him in his team selection."

On the pitch, skipper John Obi Mikel has led by example, Chelsea star Victor Moses has risen to the occasion and Leon Balogun has been nicknamed by an appreciative Rohr as 'our German machine'.

Several young players, like Leicester City pair Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi and Arsenal's Alex Iwobi, have stepped up to the full international game after gaining first-team experience in the English Premier League.

Winger Moses' class has never been in doubt, but many previously questioned his commitment to the national cause, with some suggestions that he picked which matches to play.

But he is the Eagles' leading scorer on the road to Russia with three goals ahead of Mikel and Iheanacho, who have netted two each.

The confidence in the team once derided as "Super Chickens" has now gone beyond qualification, with some predicting Nigeria will surpass their previous best World Cup effort of reaching the last 16 in 1994 and 2014.

"In Brazil (2014), the Super Eagles were poor," remarked Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere, who led Nigeria to a historic Olympic title in Atlanta 21 years ago.

"Now there is organisation in the team because the coach has put a good Super Eagles team together."

 Source: AFP

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

nigeria on the brink of world cup nigeria on the brink of world cup

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

nigeria on the brink of world cup nigeria on the brink of world cup

 



GMT 23:45 2017 Tuesday ,17 October

Kerry calls for Syrian, Arab ground troops against IS

GMT 03:38 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

Somalia's new president names 26-minister cabinet

GMT 19:39 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

Gatland eyes New Zealand rugby jobs after Wales

GMT 12:08 2017 Saturday ,16 September

Dutch 360-degree beachfront painting gets public facelift

GMT 05:16 2016 Wednesday ,15 June

Scientists use underwater robots

GMT 02:41 2017 Sunday ,16 April

Pentagon confirms DPRK missile launch fails

GMT 18:00 2011 Thursday ,12 May

Attack on Celtic manager sparks inquiry

GMT 10:40 2017 Saturday ,30 September

Trump says to decide Fed chair in 2, 3 weeks

GMT 01:10 2017 Monday ,10 July

Islamic social media to be launched by year end

GMT 13:17 2016 Monday ,08 February

Russia shuts down 2 more banks

GMT 07:19 2017 Sunday ,31 December

Nepal bans solo climbers from Everest

GMT 10:48 2014 Saturday ,22 March

Parata launches new digital education portal

GMT 17:47 2017 Tuesday ,18 April

Saudi Shoura member in favor of women driving

GMT 19:07 2011 Tuesday ,19 April

Electric cars: night-time charging better

GMT 19:48 2017 Wednesday ,01 March

5 facebook accounts closed over provocative posts

GMT 22:42 2017 Sunday ,08 January

UAE’s first nuclear plant is 75 per cent complete

GMT 11:11 2017 Friday ,25 August

Bahrain-Korea ties praised

GMT 09:04 2017 Thursday ,23 March

Qatari Chief Justice Meets Turkish Official

GMT 04:43 2017 Tuesday ,04 April

‘Baby’ beats ‘Beauty’ in box-office battle

GMT 06:33 2017 Monday ,20 February

Participates in a workshop on Babylon

GMT 13:43 2017 Monday ,01 May

Survivor of Oman bus crash recalls ordeal

GMT 13:22 2017 Thursday ,16 March

Two Russian spies indicted in massive Yahoo hack
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday