Colossus Gists

Colossus Gists recall that the football world is still in mourning following missing flight saga involving Cardiff City signing, Emiliano Sala.

Mikel and the other Middlesbrough players were at risk, as the club had to call off their flight home from Newport County as the plane was grounded due to engine failure.

Footballlive.mg reports that Mikel was among the Middlesbrough players.

The officials of the English Championship club called off a flight that would have taken the squad for their next league fixture.

Mikel and other members were forced to about-turn on the Cardiff Airport runway, following their 2-0 FA Cup defeat to League Two, Newport County.

They then re-boarded the team bus and returned to Middlesbrough by road, meaning the team did not return until 7am, with the players having to sleep on the way home.

It is a first meeting between the two countries but Nigeria has not lost to a European country in the opening match of the World Cup while Croatia have not won their opening match in the last two World Cups.

There was good news in the Nigerian camp on Friday when Leon Balogun completed the training session. There had been doubts about the fitness of the new Brighton and Hove Albion defender but he seems to have regained fitness ahead of the Croatia clash.

Coach Zlatko Dalic is expected to start Andrej Kramaric as his main striker and the Hoffenheim has said the Croats are totally concentrated on the game against the Eagles. “The Nigeria game is all we are dreaming about. We do not dream of any quarter-finals or anything like that.”

For Odion Ighalo, he is hoping he can mark his 29th birthday with a goal for the Eagles while the squad’s youngest player, Francis Uzoho believes the Eagles will “will win if we play our best”. Dalic added: “I see Nigeria as a young, potent and hungry team with great potential. This first match is very important – it will set the tone for the rest of our tournament.” Yes, it will!

Head to head

It is a first meeting between the two countries.

Three duels to watch

— Luka Modric v Wilfred Ndidi

The conductor of the Croatia symphony is Modric while the drive and energy of the Eagles is Ndidi. As much as Modric will get on the ball and dictate, Ndidi must be on the Real Madrid midfielder’s case like a fly on a horse’s tail. He cannot be allowed to have the time he wants on the ball.

— Ivan Perisic v Abdullahi Shehu

Actually the most dangerous forward for Croatia is the Inter Milan wide forward, which could mean playing a steady and strong Shehu to negate the threat. Perisic is very good in one-on-one situations, good in the air and can generate some speed while Shehu despite two ordinary performances in friendlies is steady and calm with a midfielder’s brain.

— Ivan Rakitic v Oghenekaro Etebo

If the Eagles are going to threaten the Croats, the danger will emanate from Etebo. When Las Palmas played Barcelona in the league in March, Etebo played a deep role but was tasked with breaking through the Barcelona press – he must do that job for the Eagles on Saturday against Rakitic, who though excellent in reading the game can be rash in making covering tackles.

Referee in charge: 43-year-old Brazilian, Sandro Ricci was a centre referee for the France v Honduras match at Brazil 2014 where he validated a goal by means of the newly introduced goal-line technology.

WORLD CUP FACT: Whenever Nigeria has won or drawn her opening, they have gone on to qualify for the second round.

Venue: The 35,000-seater Kaliningrad Stadium is located in Oktyabrsky Island which makes it is the closest stadium to Europe. There will be a lot of Croats in the stadium.

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Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has admitted he might have to leave out captain John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo, from their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria on November 11.

The fixture has become a mere formality, after Nigeria booked their place at next year’s tournament, with a 1-0 win over Zambia last weekend.

Rohr is ready to leave out the China-based duo, so he can have a look at other players.

“Honestly, it is going to be a dicey one because it is important for us to finish the qualifiers without losing a match. However, we will want to marry the two situations of not losing the game and also giving an opportunity to some other new players to showcase their skills.

“Also remember that before then, some players might be fit while others may not. Those coming from China have a long journey to make and when their league resumes on November 4, they will not have the extra two weeks like they had when we played Cameroon,” he said.

Nigeria's leading scorer in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers Victor Moses, Mikel Obi and Odion Ighalo might be banned for next month's game at home against Zambia.

Super Eagles

Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, his former Chelsea team-mate, Victor Moses, and comebacking striker, Odion Ighalo, are at risk over a second booking in Yaounde, which could cause them to be banned for next month’s qualifying game at home against Zambia.

A second booking in the qualifiers will fetch a player a one-match suspension. Ighalo was the latest player to be booked in the qualifiers after he displayed a tribute to Jesus on his inside shirt after he scored the all-important opening goal against Cameroon yesterday.

Nigeria’s leading scorer in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Victor Moses, who posted another Man-of-the-match performance against Cameroon, as well as Mikel are also walking a tight rope after they were cautioned in previous qualifiers.

Moses was cautioned in the 3-1 win over Algeria in November, while Mikel’s name got into the referee’s bad books two minutes to the end of the 2-1 win against Zambia in Ndola, also last year.

As millions of Nigerians are set to be glued to their TV screen when the Super Eagles and Indomitable Lions of Cameroon clash in a World Cup qualifier on Friday, Mikel Obi, is set to wear a special green boots.

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Nigeria Super Eagles

✔@NGSuperEagles

Captain @mikel_john_obi:
"The World Cup is the biggest stage in football. You can never have enough of it. We want to be in Russia 2018."

2:26 PM - Aug 30, 2017

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When the Super Eagles of Nigeria file out on Friday in a World Cup qualifier against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, fans of the three time champions will see team captain, Mikel John Obi wearing a new set of green boots.

According to Completesports Nigeria, Mikel told teammates in Uyo on Thursday;"I have my new boots for the game."

Mikel who missed the teams last three games due to a muscle injury, is expected to play behind the striker in a three man midfield alongside Ogenyi Onazi and Oghenekaro Etebo.

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Nigeria Super Eagles

✔@NGSuperEagles

We stand together, in solidarity with our goalkeeper @Carl_Ikeme. We believe he will overcome this challenge and join us again very soon.

2:44 PM - Aug 30, 2017

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The Tianjin TEDA midfielder who admits the team is condemned to win on Friday is banking on the return of Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo in attack and the Leon Balogun in defence to secure maximum points in Uyo.

Nigeria lead Group B with six points from two games, four more than second placed Cameroon who are expected to arrive in Uyo Thursday evening.

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Nigeria Super Eagles

✔@NGSuperEagles

Coach Gernot Rohr:
"We want the fans to turn out and fill up the stadium early on Friday to support us to victory. We need them."

2:22 PM - Aug 30, 2017

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Watford FC has confirmed the sale of Odion Ighalo, Super Eagles striker, to Changchun Yatai. Ighalo joins the Chinese Super League side for a reported fee of £20m.

The farewell message on Watford FC website said:

”It’s been in the offing – Odion Ighalo has completed his move to China with Changchun Yatai after a century of appearances and 40 goals in yellow.”

“Thank you, Odion.”

Ighalo played 99 games for Watford since joining the team on loan from Granada in 2014. The striker had earlier completed a medical in central London under the guidance of representatives of Changchun Yatai.

Ighalo signs his new contract

The Nigeria international then returned to Watford’s training ground where he finalised the details of the transfer. Ighalo is the latest high profile Nigerian footballer to secure a transfer to China after Mikel Obi, Super Eagles captain, made a similar move a fortnight ago.

John Mikel Obi, Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder, has been named captain of Team Nigeria to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Mikel Obi, one of the two over-aged players invited to the national U-23 football team for the games, is making his first appearance at an Olympic games.

According to a statement released by the ministry of sports Tuesday afternoon, Funke Oshonaike, table tennis star, will be the assistant team captain. This will be Oshonaike’s sixth appearance at the Olympics, following her debut at Atlanta ’96.

The Dream Team VI is expected to depart for Rio from Atlanta On July 29, 2016. Other athletes hopefully are expected to leave Nigeria on the same day.

Obi and Oshonaike were chosen because of their consistency, patriotism and dedication to national assignments, the statement said.

“Mikel is a young, patriotic footballer of international status and we believe he will be a role model to the upcoming athletes while Funke Oshonaike is experienced and is one of the oldest athletes in the team.

“We believe that their combined efforts will bring goodwill to ‘Team Nigeria’ and project the county’s image positively to the world.”