Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, says soccer-loving Nigerians will have cause to cheer after tomorrow’s crucial World Cup qualifying game between Nigeria and Zambia, in Uyo.
In a chat with reporters after the team’s training session in Uyo on Wednesday, Mikel said the time for action has come and there is no need for him and his colleagues to say too much before Saturday’s game.
According to him, all members of the squad are more than focused on the task at hand. “We know how important the match is; that is enough motivation to go all out and give our very best. There are several players in this team who have not played at the FIFA World Cup. They want to be there in Russia next year,” he said.
Mikel assured that the team was not underrating the Zambians. The former Chelsea FC of England enforcer told reporters that a good run in the qualifying campaign has been down to focus, determination and massive support of all Nigerians, and believes the same indices are in place for Saturday.”We have played four matches in the campaign so far, but this one is the match. We are fully focused and ready. All we want is the usual support and encouragement by everyone involved, including the fans who will turn out at the match venue.”
Group B leader, Nigeria, will need victory tomorrow in the game that is slated to kick off at 5 pm, to qualify for a sixth FIFA World Cup appearance.
Meanwhile, Egypt, which is now leading in Group E, and the leading team in Group A, Tunisia, could also book their spots at next year’s World Cup in the penultimate round of African qualifiers this weekend, but the remaining two slots will drag on till next month.
Egypt will play on Sunday against Congo in Alexandria in a match expected to produce a routine win and which will be played 24 hours after their two rivals in Group E – Uganda and Ghana — go head-to-head in Kampala.
Uganda are two points behind Egypt, while Ghana, which is four points adrift of the group leaders, is likely to miss out in the 2018 World Cup after appearing at the last three finals.
For Egypt, World Cup qualification has eluded the nation for decades since its last appearance at the tournament in Italy in 1990 with several heart-breaking failures since.
Tunisia’s three-point advantage over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group A has also put it in a strong position to qualify although both countries play away on Saturday in their penultimate ties. Tunisia will be away in Guinea while the Congolese will take on Libya in Tripoli.
In Group C, the Ivory Coast has a narrow one point advantage over Morocco, but has a tough match in Mali. Morocco hosts Gabon on Saturday.
In Group D, all four teams are still in with a chance as the Cape Verde Islands host Senegal and Burkina Faso are away in Johannesburg to take on South Africa.
Only the five group winners will get to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
