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Pinnick optimistic on AFCON 2017 ticket, Oliseh’s health

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Nigeria ready for Algeria, Cameroon, Zambia, says Pinnick

Nifemi Daniel

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has expressed confidence in the ability of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Eagles will battle the Pharaohs of Egypt in March in a double header while the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to be staged in Russia, begin in October 2016.

“The triumphs of the U-20 boys in Senegal, the U-17 boys in Chile and the U-23 boys in Senegal, as well as the qualification of the Eagles B for the African Nations Championship and the progress the Super Eagles have made are the results of a committed group,” he said during a Television programme monitored in Lagos on Thursday.

“I make bold to say that year 2016 will be even better. We are looking to see the home-based Super Eagles win the African Nations Championship, the Super Eagles qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and starting the race to Russia 2018 on a sound footing, and also planning for the women teams to excel at their various international championships,” he assured.

The NFF supremo also assured that Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, is getting better health –wise and experience –wise, and that the competence of his assistants to steer the team in the right direction in his absence has never been in doubt.

On the issue of the FC Taraba players’ sleep strike outside the State Government House to protest unpaid salaries and allowances, Pinnick said it was highly unfortunate but that the League Management Company is on top of the situation.

“I also want to add that going forward, the best option will be for us to have Clubs that are independent of government control; Clubs that are owned by communities and individuals. We will inter-face with the Governors’ Forum to kick-start this process.

“We know it will not happen in a month or two, or even in a year. But our objective is to have Clubs that are properly run, and stadia that are so friendly that whole families can go and watch football matches without any anxiety.”

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