By Augustine Kalu on October 20, 2016

Former national team utility player, Garba Lawal, has described the recent away victory recorded by the national team, the Super Eagles, against the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola in the Group B of the Africa World Cup Qualifiers as fantastic, but warned that the team still has a long way to go.

According to him, it is heart-warming seeing the Super Eagles pick the maximum away points but that should not be taken to mean that we have qualified for the world’s quadrennial football fiesta. The former General Manager of Kaduna United FC explained that the game in Ndola was just the first among the six games of the World Cup Qualifiers that would be played by the team.

He explained that inasmuch as Eagles are on the drivers’ seat after the first round of matches in Group B of the African 2018 Russia World Cup Qualifiers; they should ensure that they remain focused as they play the remaining games home and away as every other member of the group will be fighting to topple them.

“We have just started the World Cup Qualifiers. The away victory is fantastic. Getting the maximum away points is very fantastic,” Lawal said.

“It is really heartwarming seeing Eagles winning their away game in Ndola. Having won the first game the team should know that subsequent games are going to be tougher because nobody knows how many goals Algeria and Cameroon are going to score in Zambia.

“The World Cup Qualifiers have just started and there are still five games that Eagles would play before the group’s representative would emerge. So it is not yet time to relax but it calls for more work.

“Even when you consider the fact that Cameroon held Algeria to a draw, it tells you that the fight for the sole tick of the group is not going to be easy. What is important is that the team should not be carried away because of the Zambia game which they won. That has come and gone and it is time for them to even work harder to ensure that the advantage recorded in Ndola is not frittered away,” Lawal said.

Continuing, the former member of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) explained that Eagles must remain focused. “I think that the team should remain focused as they go into another game in the qualifiers and throughout the qualifiers. The World Cup is the biggest football event and it is the dream of every footballer to play at that big stage.

“So, the players would be doing their career a whole world of good by being focused and committed to ensure that they take advantage of the window of opportunity the victory in Ndola has bestowed on them.

“They have the opportunity to sell themselves by giving their all to ensure that they secure the sole ticket having started well.

“All the international games are opportunity for players to sell themselves so if they play well; they will definitely attract scouts to themselves who will be willing to do business with them. So, they should not let the opportunity slip off their fingers.

“However, I think that they should realise that they have become a team to beat in the group,” Lawal advised.

•Photo shows Garba Lawal.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 20, 2016

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