Eagles receive full bonus, begin preparations for Zambia
Chukwu urges Rohr to improve Super Eagles’ defence
T@shagcy
he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has opted to pay players and officials of the Super Eagles the full match bonus for Monday’s crunchy 2018 FIFA World Cup encounter against the Lions of Cameroon in Yaounde, even though the tie ended in a draw.
NFF Spokesman Ademola Olajire said yesterday that the Federation’s President Amaju Pinnick disclosed this to the team on board the ARIK Air Bombadier CRJ 1000 aircraft that flew the Nigerian delegation back from Yaounde yesterday morning.
Excited players and officials applauded as Pinnick insisted it was just reward for a masterclass output by the Nigerian squad over the two legs of the most anticipated fixture of Group B.
“When the draw was made last year, people said ours was the Group of Death. But you have stayed very much alive with scintillating performances and done the nation very proud.” A former Super Eagles Coach Christian Chukwu yesterday urged Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr to improve the team’s defence toward qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
Chukwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the match between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions
The Member of CAF Executive Committee also disclosed yesterday morning that preparations for next month’s big encounter against the Chipolopolo of Zambia, at which the Super Eagles are highly expected to pick the World Cup ticket, has started in earnest.“Even before the conclusion of this second match against Cameroon in Yaounde, we had started the arrangements for the match against Zambia. The Chairman of Organizing Committee (NFF 1st VP, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi) will travel to Uyo this week to see Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and they will go through the check-list together.
“Nothing will be left to chance. It is a very big match, and the way things have turned out against Cameroon, it is now an even bigger match than the ones we played against Cameroon. There must be no room for error.”
The Super Eagles will next host the Chipolopolo of Zambia at the next of Champions in Uyo on October. exposed some lapses in the Nigerian side, especially in the defence.
“I implore Coach Rohr to continue to improve the team by correcting the mistakes and technical lapses that played up in every match, especially in the defence.
“Although, there no perfect team in is the world, we should keep on improving with every match we play.
“It was a befitting one for all that watched it. It made millions of Nigerians happy,” he said.
He stated that the Super Eagles are close to qualifying for Russia because the team only need a draw in their match with Zambia to seal the qualification.
Nigeria drew 1-1 with Cameroun in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier played in Yaoundé on Monday.
Moses Simon’s 30th minute goal put Nigeria ahead, while Vincent Aboubakar’s 75th minute goal from a spot kick brought Cameroun back into the game which eventually ended 1-1.
The Eagles now lead Group B with 10 points from four matches, while Zambia is second with four points from three matches.
Cameroun, who are the current African champions are third with three points from four matches, while Algeria occupy the fourth place with one point from three matches.