Oliseh sure of World Cup ticket as Iheancho dazzles

In from Nifemi Daniel . . .
Ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Swaziland, Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has assured Nigerians that his team would qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Oliseh who just recovered from a sickness on Tuesday, took charge of Eagles’ first training he was not looking perfectly healthy.
“I am still not 100 percent fit but this is a crucial encounter for us and we shall try to give the best we can,” he said.
“Swaziland is difficult team and it’s not going to be easy playing against them on artificial turf. We know what is waiting for us there, we had our wakeup call against Tanzania, so the boys are in good spirit.”
He added that: “We always have every reason to entertain fear against opponents because if we don’t respect them we will get kicked out and this is a World Cup qualifier we have to respect them and take them as a very worthy opponent.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City wonder kid Kelechi Iheanacho was the centre of attraction on Tuesday as the attacking midfielder dazzles the Eagles defenders with his sublime dribbling skills with Celtic of Scotland defender Efe Ambrose being the major casualty.

Read also: Russia 2018 Qualifier: Eagles storm Swaziland Thursday

In a related develpment, all but three of the players called up for Friday’s game are currently at the Super Eagles’ base in Abuja.
The three players are Portugal-based defender Abdullahi Shehu, Italy-based midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, and US-based forward Obafemi Martins, who did not arrive on Tuesday night.
In camp are Ahmed Musa, goalkeepers Carl Ikeme, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Alampasu, defenders Efe Ambrose, Austin Oboroakpo, Chima Akas, Jamiu Alimi, Kalu Orji, Godfrey Oboabona, Wilfred Ndidi and Elderson Echiejile, as well as midfielders Paul Onobi, John Mikel Obi, Sylvester Igbonu and Rabiu Ibrahim. Others in camp are forwards Odion Ighalo, Ezekiel Bassey, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now