TheCable

Mikel Obi, captain of the Super Eagles, says Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo motivated the players through a personal visit.

Three days ago, Osinbajo walked into the training session of the Eagles at the Abuja National Stadium.

Commenting on this, Mikel said his team mates will take to the pitch on Saturday determined to earn all three points.

“Three points, that is what we will be playing for. We are committed and the visit of the Vice-President of Nigeria to our training in Abuja has motivated us even more,” he said.

“Yes, we started the race well by winning in Zambia, but we have to approach this match even more seriously.

“The Algerians will come with determination and they will play hard, but we will play harder.

“The World Cup is the biggest stage; every player wants to be there. I am happy we have such a young and energetic team.

“I played at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 but there are many of these players who have never been to the World Cup. They want to be there.”

Nigeria and Algeria were Africa’s best teams at the last World Cup finals, in Brazil, each eliminated in the Round of 16 on the same day: Nigeria fell to France and Algeria were pipped by Germany.

The rivalry between Nigeria and Algeria at senior level is one of the fiercest in African football.

Nigeria beat Algeria to win her first Africa Cup of Nations in 1980; 10 years later, Algeria beat Nigeria to win her first Cup of Nations.

Algeria beat Nigeria to qualify for her first FIFA World Cup – Spain 1982; Nigeria beat Algeria to qualify for her first FIFA World Cup – USA 1994.

The first meeting between both teams, at the All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted in 1973, ended 2-2.

Algeria enjoyed a three –match winning streak against Nigeria between October 1981 and March 1982, but Nigeria has won the last four confrontations between both nations.

The Super Eagles have never lost a World Cup qualifying home match outside of Lagos.

The Algerians arrived Uyo on Thursday evening with a delegation of 61 persons, aboard a chattered flight, and will have the official training on the pitch of Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday evening.

They were received at the Ibom International Airport by Emmanuel Ikpeme, NFF deputy general secretary, and Emmanuel Ayanbunmi, the protocol officer.

EAGLES’ WORLD CUP MATCHES IN NOVEMBER

8 Nov 1969: Nigeria 2 Morocco 0 (Ibadan)

12 Nov 1977: Nigeria 0 Tunisia 1 (Lagos)

4 Nov 1984: Liberia 0 Nigeria 1 (Monrovia)

9 Nov 1996: Nigeria 2 Burkina Faso 0 (Lagos)

14 Nov 2009: Kenya 2 Nigeria 3 (Nairobi)

13 Nov 2013: Nigeria 2 Ethiopia 0 (Calabar)