Oshiomhole, Ahmed praise Eagles

Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
| credits: File copy

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole  and his Kwara State counterpart  Abdulfatah Ahmed have  hailed the country’s fifth World Cup qualification.

Nigeria on Saturday  became the first African team  to book their place at next year’s  World Cup in Brazil  following a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in the second leg of their playoff in Calabar.

Oshiomhole and Ahmed said Nigeria deserved to qualify for the world showpiece.

 Oshiomhole,  in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, said the Super  Eagles had  done Nigeria  proud by the qualification.

He said, “The Super Eagles have shown that they are indeed the champions of Africa by emerging as the first country from the continent to qualify for the World Cup.

“The  qualification, a few days after the Golden Eaglets  won the Under-17 World Cup shows a resurgence in the belief by Nigerians that with zeal, sacrifice, patience and teamwork, a great deal can be achieved.

“However, with this qualification comes more hard work. I appeal to the Nigeria Football Federation, the coaches  of the team not to rest on their laurels  but do all that is needed to ensure that the Eagles beat our best World Cup record.”

Ahmed,  in a statement  by his Chief Press Secretary Abdulwahab Oba, said the qualification was good for the development of the game in the country.

 He said, “The victory has undoubtedly elevated  coach Steven Keshi into the annals of Nigeria’s greats as he  has won  the Africa Cup of  Nations  and qualified the country for the  World Cup victory,  and  the first African coach to have secured World Cup tickets for two  countries.”