The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2018 World Cup Qualifiers

  • We’ll get result against ‘quality’ Eagles, says Algeria’s Mandi

    We’ll get result against ‘quality’ Eagles, says Algeria’s Mandi

    Ahead of this weekend’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Algeria’s Aissa Mandi acknowledged the quality of the Super Eagles but boasted that they would surely get the needed result against the West African giant.
    The Real Betis of Spain star told Lebuteur.com that they would be coming to Nigeria to pick the three maximum points in Uyo.
    “Nigeria is a great team which has in its ranks, players of quality who play in the biggest teams of Europe. We know that this game will be difficult and that it will be played on details. We will go there with the ambition to get a good result,” Mandi said.
    The player is not giving up on Algeria’s chance of making it to Russia 2018 by saying, “As always, the atmosphere is perfect in the group. We are preparing in good condition for this match against Nigeria and I can assure you that we will do everything possible to get a positive result there. We will go to Nigeria with a positive spirit and we will spare no effort to get the three points of this game,” he boasted.
    “No, we are not back on the wall, for the simple reason that there are still five games to play in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. We must not be alarmed, because of this poor performance at home against Cameroon. We will go to Nigeria confident and with our weapons. I remain convinced that we have the means to look for a positive outcome there,” he added.
    On the shaky defence of the Algerian side, Mandi said: “No, we must stop criticizing the defence. Football is a collective sport. We win together and we lose together. I think it was the whole team that was missing out on Cameroon, not just the defence. The state of mind within the team is very positive and I can assure you that there was never any problem between the players. All is well within the selection and it is in the most total serenity that we prepare this match against Nigeria. The players are aware of the task ahead and we will do everything possible to get a positive result.”
  • We respected Nigeria too much – Kalaba

    We respected Nigeria too much – Kalaba

    A disappointed captain of Zambia’s Chipolopolo, Ranford Kalaba has attributed the respect they had for Nigeria’s Super Eagles as their undoing in the first round of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.

    The TP Mazembe striker told Soka25east.com admitted squandering several begging chances in the encounter. He added that Zambia respected Nigeria so much in the first half of the game and the belief came out positive especially in the second half.

    “I want to apologize to the soccer fans and the entire nation because I missed a lot of chances and we had chances to score a number goals in the first half. Am disappointed but I think it is one thing that the Coach and I will look at as we prepare for the next encounters.”

    He however said there was still a lot to play for in the group added that it was also time for the players in the Zambian national team to understand that there is a huge task going forward as we shall still face start studded teams with players that play in European leagues in the other teams that Zambia is yet to play.

    Kalaba sentiments were backed by the Zambian trainer Wedson Nyirenda who said the team has to have self-belief in themselves and change the mentality of as we approach the later stages of the qualifying round. “We still have very big chances to qualify and this group, a team can qualify with 10 points and that is what Zambia will be focusing on too,” said Nyirenda.

    The Zambian tactician, however, refused to blame the players saying it was a learning and building phase and the lapses seen in the game against Nigeria would be rectified in looking back to this game. Even when he agreed that the two goals Zambia conceded were silly mistakes, he is adamant that the players need to be given chance to still prove themselves.

    In another Group B encounter, Cameroun held Algeria in Algiers to one all group, a result that Zambia would welcome knowing the group is still open and its starts with only one team getting the three points. Nigeria lead the group with three points while Algeria and Cameroun are on one point respectively while Zambia is fourth without a point.

    The second round of games kicks off on the 7th of November 2016.

  • 2018 World Cup Qualifiers: Eagles grab three points as race begins

    2018 World Cup Qualifiers: Eagles grab three points as race begins

    The Super Eagles claimed the first three points of Group B as the race to the 2018 FIFA World Cup began on Sunday, leaving hosts Zambia rueing a poor start to the campaign in a difficult group.

    A marvelous team performance saw the Eagles win a competitive away match for the first time since November 2014, when goals by Ikechukwu Uche and Aaron Samuel earned Nigeria a 2-1 win over Congo in Pointe Noire, in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

    Hoping to make Nigeria’s Europe –based legion uncomfortable with an early afternoon start, and in front of a full house at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, the Chipolopolo were given a boost when President Edgar Lungu stormed the venue to lead the support.

    The 2012 African champions started with some hard running, but William Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo in the Nigerian heart of defence were very alert. Goalkeeper Carl Ikeme deflected a shot from the right over the crossbar as early as the second minute, and eventually made  eight saves including from close range bullet headers.

    After the initial efforts by the host, Skipper Mikel Obi took charge of matters in the midfield, and Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho combined well to put the Zambia defence on its toes.

    Ageless Collins Mbesuma, as well as Rainford Kalaba, Fwayo Tembo and Jackson Mwanza made Nigeria sweat on occasions, but after Iwobi swung a volley into the net for Nigeria’s opener in the 34th minute and Iheanacho sprang past Kennedy Nweene to score Nigeria’s second in the 42nd minute, the game was as good as over.

    Although Mbesuma pulled one back for the Zambians in the 71st minute, the Super Eagles contained the opposition well and finished strongly.

    It meant Franco-German Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has won his two matches in charge of Nigeria since his appointment in August.

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick said: “We praise the efforts of the players and the technical crew, and we thank the Minister of Sports for his words of encouragement before the match. We are happy with the three points but it is a marathon, not a sprint. We still have five matches to play. We will take it one match at a time. Next stop is ‘Operation Beat Algeria.”

  • WCQ: Zambia propose S’Korea friendly

    WCQ: Zambia propose S’Korea friendly

    To ensure that they play a strong side ahead of 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on October 9, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is courting South Korea, among other teams, for an international friendly.

    According to The Post of Zambia, the FAZ General Secretary Ponga Liwewe only confirmed that the association was engaged in discussions with two nations for a friendly on September 28 ahead of the Nigeria match. “We are in discussions with one or two teams for a possible friendly on the 28th, but we cannot say who for now,” said Liwewe.

    However, a FAZ source indicated that South Korea was one of those teams being courted as the association wanted to give the new coach Wedson Nyirenda a high profile match before the qualifiers begin. “What I know is that South Korea is a possible candidate, the idea is to give Wada (Nyirenda) a chance to look at the players in a competitive friendly, but it may not be South Korea, there are other big teams being talked to, I am sure you will be told if we succeed with any of them,” said the source.

    Meanwhile, former President of Zambia Football Coaches Association, Patrick Kangwa has said that there is a lot of work that needs to be done to prepare Chipolopolo for the World Cup qualifiers.

    Kangwa said it was a difficult task to qualify the team to the World Cup.

    “We have a lot of work to do to prepare the team for the World Cup, but we have all the resources and all the personnel, I am positive that we can do it before the qualifier next month. It is a difficult task but we are equal to the task,” Kangwa admitted.

    The former African champion is in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers alongside seasoned campaigners Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon.

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