Eagles should approach Croatia match like cup final, says Udom Emmanuel

“The Super Eagles of Nigeria must approach their World Cup opener against Croatia with the mentality of a cup final.” Those were the words of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, member of the Federal Government Delegation to the World Cup Russia 2018 to the Super Eagles yesterday.“They must be focused, determined, conscious of the fact that victory today will see them one leg in the second round.”

The Governor, who hosted the Super Eagles to a historic qualification at the Godswill Akpabio international Stadium in Uyo says Croatia may be the Eagles greatest Challenge yet.“This will be a massive confrontation. We should forget Iceland, forget Argentina, remain focused, get the three points at stake and we will be well motivated to approach the remaining two matches with a lot of confidence and self belief.”

In a released signed by Paul Bassey, the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Sports, Udom Emmanuel, who was the Sports Governor of the year 2017 said that in the Eagles, he sees hope, determination, the can do spirit that is the hall mark of the Nigerian youth, one that should be brought to the fore today.

“Whenever the Eagles played in Uyo, we struggled to turn back teeming supporters after the stadium had been filled to the brim. Today, we in Akwa Ibom, the adopted home of the Eagles will  join millions of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to be on our knees praying God to take over from where the Eagles will stop. We are very optimistic that the Eagles we know will rise to the fate of greatness and make us proud by the time the referees final whistle will sound today,” he said.