Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:58:47 +0000
By Michael Miyoba
ZAMBIAN soccer legend Mordon Malitoli has urged the local players summoned by coach Wedson Nyirenda to work hard and stay focused as the team prepares to face Nigeria in next month’s 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier to be played in Uyo State, Nigeria.
Nyirenda has named 26 local players for the first phase of the preparation for October 7 Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup clash against Nigeria.
The team which consist of Under-17 promising striker Lameck Banda, Power Dynamos midfielder Larry Bwalya and led by Zanaco captain Ziyo Tembo is scheduled to enter residential camp today.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Nation Sports in Lusaka, Malitoli who was part of the Zambia national soccer team that Lost 2-1 to Nigeria in the 1994 AfCON final in Tunisia, said there was need for the national team to take the clash against Nigeria seriously as it will determine Zambia’s World Cup fate.
“There is need for the team to remain focused and work hard. We can beat Nigeria. We have good players both local and foreign based players capable of beating Nigeria,
“Just like the way we beat Algeria, we can beat Nigeria. The players just need to believe that they can overcome and then it will be done,” said Malitoli
Malitoli said the players should not be intimidated by Super Eagles players who play for big European clubs, noting that seventy percent of them play in Europe.
“Zambia will have eleven players on the pitch just like Nigeria so there is no need for our players to be intimidated by Nigerian players who play for the so-called big clubs,
“We won the Africa Cup of Nations when we played against big teams with star players therefore the players will have to apply themselves well and fight as a unit to beat Nigeria.”
Malitoli however noted that the game against Nigeria was not going to be an easy one as the Super Eagles were also targeting to beat Zambia to represent the continent at the 2018 Russia World Cup tournament.
Zambia is second in group B with seven points, three points behind leaders Nigeria who are on top with ten points.
