Falcons former coach, Etim, others urge Eagles to secure ticket in Uyo

Cameroon's forward Vincent Aboubakar (2nd L) vies with Nigeria's defender William Ekong during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying football match between Nigeria and Cameroon at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, southern Nigeria, on September 1, 2017.<br />PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP

With Nigerians beginning the countdown to the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Uyo on October 7, former Super Falcons assistant coach, Etim Joy Nnenna has urged the team to step up their preparations for the tie.

Etim, who is the proprietress of Puma Football Academy, said the Super Eagles have all it takes to beat Zambia for the group ticket, but urged the Nigerians to ‘finish’ the work in Uyo so that the last group match against Algeria will be a mere formality.

“The Zambian national team is not a team that can stand up to the Super Eagles of Nigeria,” Etim told The Guardian at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

She advised the players to always listen to technical instructions from the team’s handlers and always implement whatever they are taught during training.

She commended team captain, John Mikel Obi for a job well done saying: “He is also lucky to lead such a talented set of players.”

Also speaking to The Guardian at the National Stadium, the proprietor of 11 Angels Football Academy, Jack Daniete said: “The Nigerian team now has a team of players, who are active in their various clubs, unlike in the past when the team was laced with players who were bench warmers in their various clubs.”

Toeing Etim’s views, Daniete was also optimistic that the Super Eagles will fly high in the cracker against the Chipolopolo on October 7. He predicted that the Eagles will pump in three goals against the visitors.