Sports : A United And Focused Super Eagles, And A Supportive NFF Will Guarantee Our Victory @ Russia 2018 World Cup =>> Mikel Obi... Continue Reading 👇

Captain Mikel John Obi said on Sunday that a united and focused Super Eagles, and a Supportive Nigeria Football Federation, will guarantee the three –time African champions a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.



The Chelsea midfield ace said the ARIK Air plane on the flight back from Ndola thatteam solidarity and the maturity of the technical crew have forged a new spiritin camp, and that the victory over Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium onSunday that has propelled the Super Eagles to the top of the so –called ‘Groupof Death’ is the beginning of great things to come.


“I have belief that we can reach new heights with this team. The boys are socommitted that it makes you happy. The coaching crew is made up of very maturedand brilliant people who respect the players. We are onto a good thing.”


Nigeria won a competitive away game for the first time in 23 months as Alex Iwobi andKelechi Iheanacho scored before Collins Mbesuma pulled one back in the ZambianCopperbelt capital.


ManchesterCity of England prodigy Iheanacho has now scored in each of his last fourmatches for Nigeria: against Mali in France; Luxembourg in Luxembourg City;Tanzania in Uyo and; Zambia in Ndola.


Aconvivial atmosphere prevailed inside the aircraft during the 4hour-and-22-minute flight back to Abuja, and the celebration mood heightenedseconds after landing as players, team officials and other officials learntthat Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions had forced Algeria to a 1-1 draw in the other match of Group B in Blida.


“We have a very good chance to qualify for the World Cup if we keep our heads andplay at our best level. Each and every one of us is determined to go to theWorld Cup. Now that we are top of the table, we have to remain there.”


The Zambians had hoped to get Nigeria’s Europe –based contingent rendered weak anddehydrated with an early afternoon start (2.30pm), but the Eagles approachedthe match in a matured manner, not engaging in too much running in the firsthalf-hour, and then taking their chances without blinking.


At Saturday’s match coordination meeting, the NFF had requested for water breakperiods in view of the early start, and the match commissioner, Alhaji NuruDeen Jawula from Ghana, said he would think about it. Eventually, it was notthat necessary, as the Eagles coped well and thwarted the Chipolopolo in frontof their fans.


Afriend who works with the Football Association of Zambia informed said that50,000 spectators must have squeezed into the 43,000 –capacity Levy MwanawasaStadium. And with President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (said to be a great fan ofEagles’ captain Mikel Obi and assistant captain Ahmed Musa) arriving a fullhour before kick off, the arena vibrated endlessly.


Thequintet of goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, Stopilla Sunzu, Nathan Sinkala, RainfordKalaba and Collins Mbesuma were familiar faces in the Zambian starting line-up.But Fwayo Tembo, Chisamba Lungu and Winston Kalengo are also known to be tough customers.


They tried to run hard and wear the Eagles down in the 35 -degree heat, but after surviving the first half-hour, the Nigerian attack stepped up a gear and scoredtwo brilliant goals in 10 minutes.


Indeed,the Chipolopolo created more chances, and would not forgive Eagles’ goalie CarlIkeme for denying them so many times. As early as the second minute, Ikemepushed onto the crossbar a shot from Tembo, and went on to make eight excellentsaves including stopping two close range bullet headers. In fact, skipperKalaba thought he had equalized in the 40th minute, after meeting a pull out bySinkala with a firm header, only for Ikeme to block.


Withthe job seemingly concluded in the first 45 minutes, much against the plan ofthe Chipolopolo, the Eagles could afford to take things easy in the second halfand simply plan for counter attacks. Ideye could have made it three if he hadopted for a header as Iheanacho found him in the box, but he attempted abicycle kick instead.


Mweenealso had to be alert to a scorching shot from Iwobi and a dipping from Eagles’skipper Mikel Obi.


Inthe end, it was a sweet victory. It was the first time Nigeria would win aWorld Cup qualifying match away from home since defeating Ethiopia’s WalyaAntelopes 2-1 in Addis Ababa in October 2013.



TheSuper Eagles’ next game is against the Fennecs of Algeria, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 12th November.

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