Road to Russia: Injury, not Zambia, Eagles’ biggest headache —Mikel

Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel fears injury rather than their Zambian opponents, is to be feared as Nigeria host the Chipolopolo on October 7 in Uyo.

Zambia need an outright win against Nigeria who they trail by three points on the log of Group B of the African qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

With 10 points, the Eagles are in the driving seat but back to back wins over Algeria have encouraged Zambia that Nigeria are also beatable, more so the Eagles also beat them in Ndola on October 8 last year in Ndola.

“We know how hard the game is going to be but that is more than that. Zambia have shown how strong they are on current form by beating Algeria but we are not Algeria, we are the Super Eagles,” he told sports.sina.com.cn.

However, Mikel insists beating the Chipolopolo was beyond rhetorics.’

“We all play in competitive leagues and some of us will be involved in continental football one way or the other. I pray we don’t have injuries that could stop us from flying back to Africa. That will be devastating.

‘Zambia, from what I gathered, have been fortified so we have to be complete as a team. Losing key players to injuries could be devastating and I know for sure what we can do when we have a full house.”

Nigeria, missing the influences of Mikel, Victor Moses, Leon Balogun and Carl Ikeme slumped abysmally 0-2 to South Africa in a 2019 Nations Cup qualifier in Uyo.

However on getting their squad full against the Indomitable Lions, Gernot Rohr men roasted the African champions 4-0 in Uyo during the home leg of the double-header World Cup qualifier only to pull a 1-1 draw in Yaounde four days later.