Chairman of the Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko has disclosed that he and different high pictures within the administrative sector are staying hopeful that the Tremendous Eagles can nonetheless qualify for subsequent yr’s FIFA World Cup.
Sports247 reviews that, though Dikko admitted that the Eagles are in a good spot, the previous chairman of Nigerian Skilled Soccer League (NPFL) careworn that something can nonetheless occur throughout the final two qualification matches subsequent month.
He additionally parried strategies that Eagles’ technical adviser, Eric Chelle ought to be sacked for failing to beat South Africa, stressing that any determination in that regard lies with officers of Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF).
Dikko affirmed, “It’s a accountability of the Nigeria Soccer Federation to resolve on the finish of the day. After they end their evaluation, they may suggest it to us. We’ll then have a look at it and approve or disapprove.”
He additionally gave Chelle some positives relating to the gaffer’s scorecard from 4 matches within the World Cup qualifiers, declaring that the Franco-Malian tactician has added eight factors to the Eagles’ authentic pool of simply three slots.
The NSC’s supremo said, “As for the World Cup, everyone knows the place we’re. Once we got here on board, we solely had three factors out of 12, however now, with Eric Chelle, we’ve bought 11.
“Whereas we and the NFF pulled ourselves collectively, we ensured that we bought eight factors from the final 4 video games. If we had bought these outcomes earlier, we might most likely by now be near qualifying for the World Cup.”
He then concluded with a down-to-earth remark that, although he stays optimistic, solely victory within the final two matches subsequent month – away to Lesotho and residential versus Benin Republic – would give the Tremendous Eagles any real looking likelihood of nonetheless making it to the 2026 Mundial to be co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
“At this second, now we have to be honest and factual about it, primarily based on the variety of factors we’ve bought. It’s out of fingers.
“So, we simply need to win our final two video games and see the place that might take us. However, regardless of the whole lot, we’re nonetheless hopeful, as a result of something can occur in soccer. We simply need to maintain profitable,” Dikko conceded.
