Super Eagles captain speaks on World Cup qualifying chances (video)

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday, October 9 beat Zambia away 2-1 in the match-day one of the qualifiers.

Mikel, however, has warned his teammates that they must be on their guard and not lose focus after the win against Zambia.

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The 29-year-old says he is talking to the young players in the squad not to get carried away with the win.

“I think it’s easy for young players to get carried away after winning a game, they tend to think too much of the win and fall of the road,” Mikel said in a video interview with the official Youtube page of the Super Eagles.

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“Sometimes you need someone who can speak to them; I speak to them and try to make them know that the Super Eagles must get back to where it used to be.

“The hunger still has to remain, we don’t win one and relax, we have to keep going.

“We have to maintain the discipline, the attention to detail and the way we want to play.

“I think these guys know that I think they all want to succeed; I have seen it in their eyes anytime I speak to them.”

The Super Eagles will face group favourite Algeria next on Saturday, November 12 and Mikel maintains that it is a must-win-game.

“We have to do the same, we can’t change anything; we prepare the same way, train the same way and play the same way,” Mikel added.

“We want to dominate the game, we want to make sure we have the ball, we like the ball; we have lots of players who love to play with the ball.

“We are playing at home and we have to use the home advantage to our side and make sure we put them under pressure.

“It’s going to be a very tough game, they are a very good team but I think if we keep the discipline that we have in this team and pay attention to details.”

Nigeria lead the group with three points, Algeria and Cameroon joint-second with a point each while Zambia are bottom with zero points.

The winner of the group automatically qualifies for the 2018 FIFA World Cup holding in Russia.