Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Mikel: We respect Zambia, but it’s time we wrap this up

 

Super Eagles’ Captain, Mikel John Obi has declared that though the three –time African champions have respect for 2012 AFCON winners Zambia, the total commitment to ensuring early qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals will see Nigeria wrap up the campaign next weekend.

Captain Mikel, who has had a marvelous run in the qualifying series, playing commendable leadership role, told thenff.com that he is fully dedicated to the assignment of leading his teammates out on the turf of Godswill Akpabio Stadium to secure the sole ticket in Group B on 7th October.

“I must admit that I applaud the resurgence of the Zambians this late in the qualifiers. Beating Algeria home and away is no mean feat. We will take them very serious on 7th October because they clearly have a new spirit. It is time we wrap this up.”

Nigeria beat Zambia 2-1 on match day 1 in Ndola k

Speaking further on the relative smooth –run the Eagles have had in this campaign compared to earlier FIFA World Cup qualifying races, the former Chelsea FC of England midfielder pin –pointed professionalism, determination and ambition as the factors that have swung the pendulum Nigeria’s way, whilst also heaping praises on Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.

“We have all shown professionalism, dedication and determination to be at the pole position in a group tagged ‘Group of Death.’

“Commendations must go to the entire team and the Coach, but we must finish it up in Uyo and secure our ticket right there.”

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37 Comments

  1. Football is not played in the mouth,it is physically played by eleven people in the ground and Zambia will not sit idle to watch you.Nigeria is a like any other country in Africa.In 2006, Nigeria failed to qualify at the hands of Angola, so watch out we are coming.

    • But it is rather Zambia who have been playing football with their mouth. All the rhetorics I hear from the Zambians is how they are going to beat Nigeria in their home because they did same to Algeria. Your FA President said it, your coach said it. Lets both tread cautiously and prepare intensely. I pray Nigeria wins it this time.

  2. I’m sorry but I see no other outcome for this game apart from a resounding Nigerian victory or in a worst case scenario: a hard fought draw by Zambia.
    Nigeria are not known to mess around when qualification to the mundial is at stake, least of all on home soil.

  3. Chipolopolo should win in Nigeria convincingly. The Nigerian players are old and immobile and can’t stand the heat for 90 minutes. Mikel, Onazi and Moses are past their prime and i doubt their real age. I expect Stopilla and Sinkala to crush the eagles. Zambia hardly loses when there is qualification as stake. Head to head also favours Zambia. I hope Nigerians will be here after we have embarrassed them in Uyo.

    • You seem to be living on another planet. Which head to head? Is it the last in Ndola? Not losing qualification battle and you have never qualified for a World Cup. Mouth does not play football. IT WILL BE ANTI CLIMAX for Zambia tomorrow in Uyo. Come back to this forum after the match. One thing we have learned is that Southern Africans do not reflect realities

    • I dont think u watch football. …or u re just not being honest. … Nigerians re old really. .. Nd moses has past his time? Do you knw iwobi.iheanacho.leon balogon.ekon.or simin moses? Pls go and find out about who they are

    • I dont think u watch football. …or u re just not being honest. … Nigerians re old really. .. Nd moses has past his time? Do you knw iwobi.iheanacho.leon balogon.ekon.or simin moses? Pls go and find out about who they are

  4. @Mtembo hahahaha are you serious? You never lose when qualification is at stake? So enlighten us why you’ve never been to a world cup, Chief. I must have forgot how you beat Ghana in Kumasi to qualify for Brazil 2014.
    Also which head to head favors you? Were you born the last time Zambia got the better of Nigeria? I’m not even gonna address the dribble you said about Moses, Onazi etc.

  5. I have a lot of respect for the super eagles , they are the only African country to play with flair at the World Cup. Their team that beat us at Afcon 94 was a team of African galacticos( Keshi, Okocha ,etc).
    But…
    this chipololo team has transformed its fortunes and are nothing like the team that was beaten 2-0 in Ndola.
    The past is history and the future is the under 20’s …
    Any doubts???
    Ask Riyad Mahrez what happened….

    • 7 of the players who played in the 2:1 (Nigeria) and 1:1 (Cameroun) matches are not in this Team for Uyo, that speaks volumes to Nigeria!

      • And you think the Eagles don’t have that much changes in their team? You must be very ignorant. You may be surprised that the eagles have changed up to seven players in the team as well.

  6. Zambia will be beaten like a thief in Uyo. You will not know what hit you. Keep boasting while the Super Eagles keep their focus on football.

    • Have you seen any player texting you on this blog? ???. Do not be fooled as am speaking Fashionable Daka, Shonga, Mwepu & Chisamba are as focused on the 3 points as they were in Algeria.

      You will be chanting Uyo! Uyo! while we attack…

  7. I hope you remember all the empty boasts before the Super Eagles beat your team in Ndola. You called Iwobi and Iheanacho small boys and these “small boys” showed you pepper. FYI, both players will not be starting in Uyo as the Nigerian team is now stronger than when we beat you in your backyard. Nigeria has not lost a world cup qualifier at home in decades and are not chokers.

  8. @benny we are speaking about our national teams not u20s if we are to boast about u20s then ghana can come here and run their mouth as they are the FIRST and ONLY african team to win u20s world cup so please dont go there. Your senior national team has never won in west africa so stop your nonsense

  9. Zulu yes l know we are talking about senior national team not U20 but for us we on the process of dismantling senior so that U20s take that mantle learn to think properly

  10. These Zambian team are full of 2nd grade players. Only if determination and wishful thinking would suffice to qualify a team for world up then Zambia would make it through. Since winning the Afcon the Zambians have become very loud. They will be taught some footballing lesson in Nigeria. I will celebrate them if they can get a single goal but i see a drubbing and tutelage of the youthful Zambians by the Super Eagles. They will come to understand why they have very few professional footballers.

  11. Yes sir, Zambia in trouble. This is a warning for the mouthed Zambia coach who’s mouth is oilly and creamy. With this goal for Arsenal I declare another goal 4 Alex Iwobi against Zambia (second half goal).

    Nigeria 4 v 0 Zambia

    Goal scorers

    *V. Moses

    *S. Moses

    *O. Ighalo

    *A. Iwobi

    Goal Assisst

    *V. Moses

    *O. Ighalo

  12. @Kamwa, when we beat Zambia in Ndola, the likes of Balogun, Etebo, Victor Moses and Ighalo were missing. They are all back for the encounter in Uyo. I honestly fear for Zambia.

    • Zambia your team lack experience just take it OK Cameroon Africa champion Nigeria beat them stop boosting OK because you beat Algeria different is clear Nigeria is different Algeria ok

  13. @Jervis Wilson Musonda, Nigeria had Ikeme, Balogun, Moses. Mikel and Ighalo, 5 key players missing and fielded an experimental team of young players against our wives from South Africa. We are fielding our strongest team against the rubber bullets of Zambia.

  14. OK but moses and lghalo will not find the back of the net one of under20 from Zambia will score Nigeria almost beaten by youthful Zambian team but they were luck the referee was on their side that made them(Nagerians)win on penultities

  15. that is our Mikel talking. the Zambians will wish he is a Zambian. bet me. who won’t want Mikel to be their captain? he plays good football too defending the midfield. you hardly take ball from him. you hardly. so sorry for the copper bullet. empty shell. better still rubber bullets to quell riot. Nigeria 6-0 Zambia.

  16. Why would a Zambian wish to have Obi in our current squad ? Lol, you see, we have faith in our youngster Mwepu the computer! You can exhibit mechanical Mikel we won’t flintch. We are chipolopolo bola na lesa. As a team they will triumph.

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