By Daily Sports on March 12, 2018

Our last week topic was so interesting, informative and educative according to numerous readers that got across to me.  In short, many readers of this column after welcoming Daily Sports strides in registering with Google worldwide asked what they stand to gain now that we are on that so visible global platform. I said point blank that they will gain beyond their imagination, ranging from products, services, campaigns, etal. Whatever is displayed on Daily Sports website is seen globally, easily accessible and since our portal is visited daily in large numbers by all ages, it stands us out in solid height for advertisements to be seen by larger audience. Our website is equally and easily accessed by all and sundry worldwide.

I concluded humbly that it is a great plus for Daily Sports and our undaunted desire and appetite to serve you even better. Aside being Nigeria’s best online Sports Daily, we are among the most reliable and authoritative voice in sports in the country as even some traditional newspapers pick stories from us to disseminate without any recourse to fear. The Google enquires is still on even as I was about putting this write up to bed. I sincerely thank you numerous readers for your SMS to that effect. I remain humbled! 

The team list for the friendlies between Nigeria, Portugal and Serbia is already in the public domain and we saw returnee names like Joel Obi, Kenneth Omeruo and some surprises from CHAN Eagles players in Gernot Rohr’s list. It is instructive to note that we will see many more as the friendlies get underway which will start shaping and finally define the way and manner Super Eagles team list to Russia World Cup would look like at the end of the day. Portugal and Serbia friendlies would start setting the tone for preparations for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

No doubt, the Franco- German born technical hand is not taking anything for granted and so he knows what it will take to have a team made up of players that would be attentive, balanced, hungry, flexible, responsive, and rugged and all it takes to make bold statement in the global championship that attracts the best football players around the World. 

As the build up to the forthcoming 2018 World Cup football summit among the countries that qualified for Russia mounts, attention for Nigeria to attain the level she did in the previous editions has taken the centre stage among the technical crew and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation.

They have left nothing to chance in the articulation and fund sourcing that will help the Super Eagles players and crew remain focused on the task ahead. Many football pundits very close to Nigerian football trends have confessed that if the current preparation of the Nigerian team to Russia is anything to go by, Eagles will certainly post sterling results if nothing goes wrong at the middle of execution.

Pundits further agree that NFF leadership has for once shown great commitment in its quest to put every necessary thing at the disposal of the team in Russia in the spirited effort to encourage the Eagles post very impressive outing in the tournament. Every African obviously looks upon the team to salvage the continent’s image in the global football tournament.

The point here is that all hands saddled with the responsibility for proper planning, far reaching preparations and execution for the Super Eagles to stand tall in all ramifications in the impending Championship come June are on deck.

Let’s be honest with you; coming on the heels of Nigeria’s resolve to go extra mile to prepare her team resoundingly after sorting and smoothening out rough edges that had in the past derailed our high hopes to do better than our last edition, many including former World Footballer of the Year and now President of Liberia, George Weah recently during his visit to his Nigerian made far reaching assertions on the Super Eagles team to the World Cup and the surprises the side could spring up if well looked after through adequate planning and preparations. With better funding and sundry things necessary to spur the squad to greater heights, the West African giants could win the World Cup (emphasis mine) if not in Russia, but in Qatar 2022.

President Weah’s observation and declaration on the Eagles being African’s hope in the World Cup cannot be treated with flippancy. He is authority in the game and the highest honoured African footballer before he ventured into politics and now Liberia’s number one citizen. He was an authority in the round leather sport and played football with one of the best teams in the World including A.C Milan.  His visit to Nigeria and his bold statement on the Eagles made lots of impact and meaning to those that are supposed to know.

His statement was encouraging and timely as it has served as a wakeup call to football authorities and Nigerian government on the need to redouble their efforts to fund the Eagles well. He made it point blank that Nigeria has the potentials to win the World Cup. His statement was substantial and to the point.

At least President Weah’s statement on the Eagles was instrumental to why President Buhari told his audience last week that the Federal government would throw its weight behind the Super Eagles in their quest to Russia World Cup 2018. Weah’s stand was refreshing.  My take is that Amaju Pinnick and his NFF must attentively listen to President Weah and move closely to put Eagles on solid part to compete resoundingly.  He knew inside out what is in the terrain. His saying won’t just be wished away. It has to be implemented to the letter. His visit has helped to further highlight the importance of the World Cup and the need for great showing by the Super Eagles in the tournament. 

Truth is that Eagles players are resolute to perform in Russia. The lads are focused and we would continue to pray for injury free squad to the competition. We also pray that all what was agreed between them and the leadership of the NFF must be fulfilled to the least. The name of the game is money whether at the club or national team levels. Weah knew the impact of what lavished motivation of players and well-tailored preparations and planning can do for a team. He fell in love with the Eagles and as such would be praying for them. He must have also put words across to Buhari in the course of their discussion on the need to wholeheartedly support the world Cup campaign of the Nigerian team to the Russia global football showpiece. It no doubt informed the statement by President Buhari recently. You may have missed out President Weah’s avowal on the Nigerian side.  Daily Sports captured the valuable contribution of the Liberian President who is a legendary football player of repute. Read on and have swell time…   

Weah confident Nigeria could lift Russia 2018 World Cup

President George Weah of Liberia has said that Nigeria could win the 2018 World Cup in Russia if the country prepare adequately for the mundial.

Weah said early preparations; conducive camp environment and prompt payment of incentives are some of the elements that would spur the Super Eagles to winning the World Cup in Russia.

Weah, the only African player to win the Ballon d’Or in 1995, and Liberia’s 25th President, was answering questions from State House Correspondents after his State visit to Nigeria.

The Liberian President, who had earlier held a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and few members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), noted that qualifying for the World Cup was no mean feat; hence the officials must make sure the players have no excuse to fail.

He commended President Buhari, for giving the team the needed support against the backdrop that African governments complain of funds when it comes to sports.

When asked to give out tips that will aid the Nigerian team to bring back the trophy, Weah said, “It’s not an easy task to qualify for World Cup because every government in Africa complains when it comes to sports.

“I was amazed the other day sitting before President Emmanuel Macron, he talked about his sports agenda because he believes you can build capacity through sports, and through sports you can also encourage people to work, to do what they want to do.

“I have been fighting for so long for my national team to qualify. Imagine, I’m the world best here in Africa, the only world best. And I said to President Macron, that FIFA built one stadium in Liberia and we have one Ballon d’Or, so if you build 10 stadia in Liberia, you will have 10 Ballon d’Or.

“I think Nigerian team is a model, we all followed them. I have played with great Nigerian players, I played against them. Now you have a new generation, the fact that they qualified is a good thing for Nigeria.

“But I hope that they will prepare very early because they are going to represent Africa and we will be there to watch them, for them to bring the trophy for the first time if it is possible. But I think the seriousness to go to the World Cup is not to pay players to go. I want every African government to know, if you win World Cup it’s a pride to Africa and not just to Nigeria, so we must do everything to ensure that the players are not stressed, make sure they concentrate, make sure their incentives are given to them to motivate them.”

As you have just read President George Weah view on the World Cup, what is required for the Super Eagles to do well is not far-fetched than for them to heed the word to word advise in order to see if we can make headway in the Russia showdown.

The charge of President Weah’s call centered on the fact that if the Eagles prepare well and early enough the team would make required and enduring impact in the forthcoming tournament in Russia. He also pointed out that only concentration and self-determination by the boys and mouthwatering motivation can do the magic for the Nigerian side cum Africa continent. 

As we keep contributing to the anticipated sterling posting by the Eagles in Russia, let’s keep the tempo aflame on Twitter, WhatsApp, Linkedin and Facebook. Let us keep the social media alive with discussion on what and what would make the Super Eagles thick in order to perform better in her World Cup history.

Heads or tail, Weah’s wakeup call in Nigeria on Eagles and Russia 2018 is not only key but also timely if we have ears to hear and heed it too. Chikena. It is our task to contribute positively to what will make our team greater and all. Keep shooting hard, till next week!!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 12, 2018

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