ABUJA – Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, has said that the Super Eagles are ready to face Iran in their opening match of the 2014 World Cup on Monday in Brazil.
A statement from NFF’s Assistant Director (Media), Ademola Olajire, on Sunday in Abuja reported Maigari, now in Brazil, as saying that the Nigeria side were ready to earn three points from the match.
The Super Eagles will square up against Iran in their first Group F match at the Arena Da Baixada, Curitiba on Monday by 8 p.m. Nigerian time.
“Our boys are ready for this task. I have been with the team all the way from London during their friendly with Scotland.
“Up to their final camping in the USA and now here in Brazil, so, the spirit is good and I believe they will go all out on Monday.
“The presence and kind words of the members of the Federal Government delegation and the arrival of the NFF delegation have boosted the morale of our team in a big way.
“The boys know that the government and people of Nigeria are with them and they know what they have to do to make Nigeria and Africa proud,’’ Maigari said.
Meanwhile, the delegation of the NFF to the World Cup in Brazil landed in Sao Paulo on Saturday and will also fly to Curitiba for the match against Iran.
According to the statement, the delegation, led by the Chairman of NFF’s Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama, travelled aboard an Air Asia Airbus 340 plane.
“The delegation was received by NFF’s Marketing Director, Adama Idris and members of the Local Organizing Committee of the FIFA World Cup.
“There were also on board members of NFF Executive Committee, Muazu Suleiman, Shehu Adamu, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Ayodeji Tinubu, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Yusuf Ahmed, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, Effiong Johnson and Ahmad Muazu.
“Director of Technical, Emmanuel Ikpeme, led the senior staff, with chairmen of state football associations and a number of State FA secretaries, also joined by a few officials of the National Sports Commission and other stakeholders.
“There were former national coaches, including Chrisitian Chukwu, Amodu Shaibu and James Peters, Nigeria Football Coaches President, Bitrus Bewarang.
“Others include President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Ahmed Maude and former WAFU President Jonathan Ogufere; former NFA board members Abubakar Ladan and Peter Singabele.
“Also, former Eagles’ stars, Victor Ikpeba and Garba Lawal; members of the League Management Company, some club chairmen and a couple of media representatives were on the flight,’’ the statement said.
It added that the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo, also arrived in Brazil in company of a large contingent of members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club.
“The team travelled aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa, through Lome and this group will also join the NFF delegation in Curitiba on Monday,’’ the statement read. (NAN)