2018 WCQ: SWAN cautions Super Eagles against complacency

Deputy President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Umar Saidu, on Saturday, cautioned players of Super Eagles against complacency, just as they maintained the lead in their group in the World Cup qualifiers.

Reacting to the Eagle’s 3-1 defeat of the Algerian National team, Saidu said that with six points in two matches, the players and officials should not think that they had already scaled through because ‘football is not mathematics’.

“The outcome of today’s game with Algeria is heart-warming as the Eagles have consolidated on the leadership of their group in the World Cup qualifying matches.

“The team however, needs not to be reminded that it is not all over until it is over because football is not mathematics,” he said.

Said observed that a lot of work still needed to be done in the defense line of the Eagles, which had always been the weak part of the team.

Making the same observation, former Chairman of Gombe State Sports Commission and proprietor of Yarmalite Football Academy, Gombe, Alhaji Faruk Yarma, commended the Eagles but said the technical team needed to do some extra work on the defense line.

Yarma, who is currently the state’s Commissioner for Youth and Poverty Alleviation, urged the players to redouble their efforts as the next opponents (Cameroon) had been a stumbling block to Nigeria’s success in the past.

Football fans in Maiduguri and Dutse also hailed the Eagles for winning the match with wide margin.

One of the fans, Ahmed Ibrahim, a resident of Maiduguri, said that the Eagles were ‘almost’ sure of qualifying for the World Cup, going by the victory.

“I will like to congratulate all Nigerians for the victory; the players have actually done well in their campaign.

“I think that they have won the heart of many Nigerians by the victory,” Ibrahim said.

Ahmad Musa, a resident of Dutse, told NAN that the outcome of the match made him to be optimistic that the Eagles would qualify for the 2017 World Cup.

“The level of play by the Super Eagles shows that they are ready for the task ahead,” he said.