Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung says the federal government is upbeat about the Super Eagles’s chances of clinching a 2018 World Cup ticket on Saturday.
Nigeria hosts Zambia’s Chipolopolo at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom state this weekend, in a crucial World Cup qualifier which will determine who picks the Group’s slot to Russia.
Dalung is optimistic that the Super Eagles, knowing that a victory against the Chipolopolo will guarantee them an automatic qualification for the 2018 FIFA world cup in Russia will go for the maximum 3 points.
Reacting ahead of the important match, Dalung urged the Super Eagles to put up a worthy display against the second placed Zambia.
“This match is a very important one for both teams as the result will play a key role in determining who will be at the World Cup in Russia. We started the World Cup qualification campaign in Zambia and we beat them 2-1 in the presence of their President and their home crowd . We have maintained the lead after a 4-0 routing of Cameroon here in Nigeria last month .
“Despite topping the group, we will not leave anything to chance against the Zambians who will be desperate to record an upset against us. We saw what Zambia did to Algeria on match day 4 of the world cup series and we cannot afford to be complacent against a team who will be desperate to make a difference.”
Dalung who will be physically present in Uyo to support the team tasked the Super Eagles to once and for all put the qualification campaign to bed with one game to go against Algeria.
“The sole ticket in our group is for us to win with 1 game to go against Algeria. A victory in Uyo against Zambia is not negotiable.”
Dalung believes that getting the job done on Saturday will save football loving Nigerians the unneccessary anxiety ahead of the final group game against Algeria.
“The Super Eagles have prepared very well and they have also been mobilized. The team are in high spirit and we want to assure Nigerians that we will definitely make good our promise of delivering the 2018 World Cup ticket to Nigerians
“We must get the job done for the sake of all football loving Nigerians. The team must be aware that a lot depends on this game, so they need to step out against Zambia with their target being the maximum 3 points.”
He called on Nigerians to troop out in their numbers on Saturday to cheer the team to victory which will guarantee the Super Eagles, their 6th World Cup appearance after making their debut in 1994.
“I want to thank Nigerians for the tremendous and inspiring support they have been giving to the team. The players are also aware of the sentiments of Nigerians and they will not disappoint them. Let them continue to support and pray for the Super Eagles ”
Nigeria defeated Zambia by 2goals to 1 in Ndola on match day 1 of the 2018 world cup qualifiers.
