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Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday bades the Super Eagles farewell ahead of their Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The usual Federal Executive Council meeting between Buhari and his Executive team was put off by the President, to wish the three time African champions well on their way to a sixth appearance at the world cup.
“You are the youngest team in the tournament, which means you are probably the most inexperienced team, a fact that will not be forgotten by your opponents.
But it’s also something you can use to your advantage,”said President Buhari.
Nigeria will take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Croatia and Iceland from June 14.
All their opponents are ranked higher than Nigeria by the global football governing body, FIFA.
"With each game, you must remember that you are carrying the passions, emotions and feelings of over 180 million people" the President said.
He then charged the team to ‘play fair and clean’ and win in Russia.
Nigeria’s best performances at the World Cup were at the 1994, 1998 and 2014 tournaments where the team reached the round of 16.
They planned surpass the African continent’s best record of quarter finals by Senegal and Ghana.
The captain of the team, midfielder Mikel Obi thanked the president for facilitating the team, highlighting that the inherent financial risk that usually plagues the national team ahead of big tournaments had been effectively dealt with.
He said that This is the first time we’re going to a competition like this with no issues of money/bonuses. All we have to do now is go out there and make Nigeria proud,
The Super Eagles have since landed in London to confront England in an international friendly on Saturday at the Wembley stadium.
