Minister of Youth and Sports,
Barrister Solomon Dalung says the Federal government of Nigeria 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.
Barrister 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.
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 unnecessary 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.
In this regard, the match ticket price
has been slashed:
Poularside – N500
VIP – N1000
“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.
