Abuja, June 26, 2016 – Nigeria’s senior team stalwarts have refused to be worried about being housed in the African 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification series’ so –called group of death.
Reactions have been sharp, immediate and interesting, from NFF President Amaju Pinnick’s “now we must quickly sort out the issue of Head Coach and his assistants and put every other thing in place in good time,” to former Eagles’ captain and member of the NFF Technical Committee Garba Lawal’s “I would rather lose to Algeria than lose to Chad.”
Now, the players themselves have come out to express confidence that the Super Eagles can earn a third straight FIFA World Cup ticket despite the challenge of Algeria, Zambia and Cameroon.
Interim Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf
Without any doubt, this is a tough draw but with commitment, determination and motivation, the Super Eagles will scale these hurdles and qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Ogenyi Onazi
This is not a bad draw. I believe the Super Eagles are equal to the task. All we need to do now is to start planning from this very moment. We have to get our coach in place and give him, whether white or black, a very conducive environment to work. I am confident that by the grace of God we will qualify. We will give our 100% in every game and try to win whether home or away. Every match must be taken as a matter of life and death.
Leon Balogun: Far from easy, but it’s the hard road that leads to success. Let’s take this opportunity and earn our spot.
William Troost Ekong
I think it’s a tough draw, but I never imagined we were going to get any easy opponents on the way to 2018 World Cup. I believe that we can do it. If we can put everything in place structurally for all members of staff and players to focus on just the games, together with the support of our nation we will be successful.
Elderson Echiejile
It is not an easy group, I must say, but we have all what it takes to finish top of that group and I believe we can. We have to start preparing NOW (put everything in proper place). It is never too early to start preparing for such matches. We are the Super Eagles.
Brown Ideye
At this stage of football, tough groups like the type we have found ourselves are to be expected. To get to the World Cup, we cannot cut corners or relax or take things for granted. The World Cup is the biggest football stage where you meet the best of the best, so getting there will be tough. Now, we have to be prepared to work hard. If we work hard together as a team we will win matches and if we win our games we will qualify. The media have to be involved in this as well. They (media) have a huge role to play in motivating and psyching our team to do well. Everything is in our hands, we must plan well and ensure our house is in order. I believe we will qualify.
Ahmed Musa: This is a very good group. All I will say for now is that we will do our best to qualify.
