For the 20 remaining teams in the CAF qualifying campaign, the journey to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ begins in earnest this week as they play their first games in the group stage. With only the five group winners earning the right to represent the continent, the stakes are high from the off as every team knows that a loss in the first game sees them having to make up ground.
A quick start certainly would seem necessary in the brutal Group B, where three veterans of the 2010 and 2014 finals have been grouped together.
The unfortunate fourth team to join Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroon is 2012 African champions Zambia. The Chipolopolo, who missed out on a place at the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals, are at home to Nigeria in their opener.
Nigerian captain Mikel John Obi, who has not played any league games for Chelsea this season, said he is looking forward to getting the group phase started. “All the other players and myself are fit and ready and we are determined to start the World Cup race on a winning note,” he said.
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has called up a star-studded side consisting mainly of European-based players, spearheaded by in-form Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho and youngster Isaac Success, who is in line for his first senior cap, having scored his first Premier League goal for Watford on the weekend.
In contrast, Rohr’s Zambian counterpart Wedson Nyirenda will depend mainly on local-based stars from the Zambia Super League as the southern African country chases a first-ever appearance at the World Cup. The other group game sees Algeria, who have just lost their top ranking position in Africa to Côte d’Ivoire, at home to Cameroon.
[fifa.com]
Nigeria will be disappointed and frustrated on sunday z expected to be last of this group because they feel they knows football better.go chipolopolo
Bola
its true they will be disapointd
una dey dream abi… Make una dey get hope for kalaba, na till onazi let am pass before him go do wetim him dey plan. Lol kalaba is dreaming rubish, zambians are high rating kalaba because he i all dey have but we Nigerians are seeing him like NOVICE, hAhAhA
una dey dream abi… Make una dey get hope for kalaba, na till onazi let am pass before him go do wetim him dey plan. Lol..
kalaba is dreaming rubish, zambians are high rating kalaba
because he is all dey have but we Nigerians are seeing him as
NOVICE, hAhAhA
Keep on bragging Alataman….Sunday is around the corner.
Rubber Bullets vs Super Vultures. I will be back from Church by then
panic nd fear r circling in these naija pipo minds thus dey r alwys on dis site
@RICHPOPO, you wanted to spell Richpawpaw or what? Nigerians are not panicking. I will give you 2 websites that are Nigerian Sport paper and a regular paper. http://www.completesportsnigeria.com, http://www.vanguardngr.com. Read them to know if we are panicking and fearing Zambia. I still stand by my prediction Zambia 0-3 Nigeria. We are excited as we want to see the combination of Iheanacho-Iwobi-Brown. Victor Moses, Babatunde, Isaac Success and Odion Ighalo are not coming. Injury problem problems. Had it been Victor Moses came, the score would have been z.a.m.b.i.a spelt.
nigeria is away dont forget that(pa mwanawasa)