Only God will help Nigeria qualify for World cup says Ex-Super Eagles player Tijjani Babangida

Ex-Nigeria star Tijjani Babangida has fired a damning verdict on the country’s World Cup chances saying the Super Eagles will need a miracle to be at Russia 2018 because they are not ready for the challenge.

Babangida featured at the 1998 World Cup and was recently a special assistant to former Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh.

The former Ajax Amsterdam star told AfricanFootball.com that while other teams are busy preparing hard for the 2018 World Cup qualifying series which begin in October, Nigeria are yet to have a permanent coach.

"The worse happened already after we were not seeded,” he said.

"And now with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia in our group, only a miracle could take us out of this group, let's be realistic even though we also know that anything is possible in football.

“Other nations are already 100 percent ready for the qualifiers, while we are still not certain who our 

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Nigeria to name new foreign coach soon says Pinnick

Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has stated that following the outcome of the 2018 World Cup draw the football house will swing into action as to who takes charge of the Super Eagles.

The draw that was held in Cairo, Egypt on Friday placed the Eagles in Group B alongside Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.

According to thenff.com, Pinnick described the draw as a tough one for the Eagles.

He stated that preparation for the Eagles will commence immediately.

“It is a tough draw, but then I have always said that you have to beat the best to get to the World Cup," Pinnick said.

"Now we have the draw, we know how to prepare. The preparation has to start right now and we must make good use of every single day
leading to the kick-off of the series.

“The other pools are tough as well, because for me, you can never afford to underrate any team
these days.

"Now we must quickly sort out the issue of head coach and his assistants and put every other thing in place in good time."

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Cameroon Coach Broos: We’re In Group Of Death With Nigeria, Algeria

Head coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon Hugo Broos has stated that it will be difficult for all the teams in Group B of the African Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Cameroon drew Nigeria, Algeria and Zambia with only the group winners qualifying.
On Friday, 20 teams were drawn in five groups of four with the top teams guaranteed a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Broos told cafonline.com that Nigeria, Algeria and Zambia are all top teams.

"This is the group of death and it's a very difficult group, especially with a team like Algeria, you also have Zambia and Nigeria, three very good teams," Broos said.

"It will be very difficult for each team in the group. We will see what happens on the opening days in October and November."

The Super Eagles will open their qualifying campaign away to Zambia while Cameroon will be guests to Algeria.

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2018 World Cup Qualifiers: Zambia Legend, Kalusha Stays hopeful Despite ‘Group B’ Tough Draw

Zambia legend, Kalusha Bwalya is confident about his country’s chances ‎ahead of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, which begins in October 2016 despite agreeing that Group B  comprising of Cameroon, Algeria and Nigeria is difficult.

Bwalya was reacting to Friday’s World Cup draw which took place at ‎the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo, Egypt via his twitter handle as he stated that Zambia’s knowledge of Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria would be an added advantage.

According to his tweet, Kalusha Bwalya said: “Tough draw but can be managed. All three known to‎ Zambia. Depends how you start the race.” The football administrator captained the Zambian team that lost to the Super Eagles in the final of the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia ’94.He was a player-coach during the African 2006 World Cup qualification matches.

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Nigeria to kick start World cup qualifier against Zambia

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will open their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign in Zambia on October 3.

The country’s second game will be at home on November 7, when they host Algeria.

Third match day will be at home against Cameroon on August 28, 2017, while the rever fixture in Cameroon five days later.

The Eagles then welcome Zambia to Nigeria on October 2, 2017, with their final qualifier away in Algeria on November 6, 2017.

Nigeria Fixtures:

Oct 3 Zambia vs Nigeria

Nov 7 Nigeria vs Algeria

Aug 28, 2017 Nigeria vs Cameroon

Sept 2, 2017 Cameroon vs Nigeria

Oct 2, 2017 Nigeria vs Zambia

Nov 6, 2017 Algeria vs Nigeria 

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World Cup qualifying draw: Nigeria pairs Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria

Nigeria will face rivals Cameroon, Zambia and Algeria in the qualifying race for the 2018 FiFA World Cup in Russia.

The draw ceremony took place Friday evening at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

After the Fifa President’s opening remark by a representative, tribute was paid to late Nigeria legend Stephen Keshi.

The draw was then made with the help of Tunisia coach Henryk Kasperczak, former Senegal midfielder Aliou Cisse, Egypt star Mohammed Elneny and former Cameroon striker Alphonse Tchami.

Tunsia will slug it out with Libya, DR Congo and Guinea in Group A, while South Africa were drawn with Cape Verde, Burkina Faso and Senegal in Group D.

Nigeria were thrown in a veritable ‘Group of Death’ with the highest-ranked African team Algeria, Zambia and eternal rivals Cameroon - all former Afcon winners - in Group B.

Reigning African champions Cote d’Ivoire will hope to secure a World Cup place but must negotiate their way past Gabon, Mali and Morocco in Group C, while Ghana, Egypt, Congo and Uganda will complete in Group E.

The teams will play on a round-robin basis with all five group winners qualifying automatically for Russia 2018. Matches will take place between October 2016 and November 2017.

Nigeria face Algeria in their first qualifier later this year before facing the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and Zambia’s Chipolopolo.

DRAW IN FULL

Group A: Tunisia, Libya , Congo DR, Guinea
Group B: Zambia, Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria
Group C: Gabon, Mali, Cote d’ivoire , Morocco
Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde
Group E: Ghana, Egypt, Congo, Uganda

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