By GBOLAHAN DADA
FC Zugdidi of Georgia midfielder, Luqman Gilmore, is confident that Nigeria’s Super Eagles have the required impetus to crush every opposition and scale through the knock out stages of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Championship in Egypt.
The Gernot Rohr boys are in their top shape after outwitting Burundi and Guinea in their first two games before tomorrow’s last duel of the group against Madagascar.
Nigeria set to maintain the leadership status of the group B of the event with two goals and six points already in the kitty. Gilmore said Eagles are now the team to beat in the competition.
“I think we have a good chance as the first nation to qualify for the knock out stage. It’s positive and good for the confidence of the team to forge ahead in the competition”, Gilmore told thelagostimes.com.ng.
Football pundits had predicted that Eagles may drop a point against Madagascar as they are likely not going to take the match seriously on Sunday.
But FC Zugdidi player believes that the team is not yet formidable, as they need to do more homework to stand upright in the round of 16.
“Yes the players are not perfect yet but with time, they will get better as the tournament progresses. The coach should consolidate on the good work. I think under him, the young players have a chance and there are lots of competitions. I think this is healthy for the national team”, Gilmore said.
A victory for Madagascar against Nigeria will see the country qualify into the knockout stages of the event for the first time.
Madagascar coach, Nicolas Dupuis, is seriously
working hard to get a shocking victory
against Nigeria. This will be the fifth encounter between Madagascar and
Nigeria.
Gilmore who is aspiring to play in the senior national team in the future, said he started playing football like every kid from Nigeria.
“ I started my football career through the street. and later in schools and later moved to a football academy. to fully discover my potentials”, he said.
“I have always been part of our youth national teams. But I am not lucky enough to make it to any major tournament. I was part of the 2013 Under-17 and 2015 Olympics Under-23 team. My desire is to play at the highest level and possibly to be of help to the less privileged in the society,” he said.
Read also: Buhari to announce cabinet in July, says SGF
Gilmore is plying his trade in Georgian club with two other Nigerians, Martins Nnaemeka and Chinedu Uzona who are virtually in the first team of the Division Two side.
I love Xaxi Hernandez and Yaya Toure. In Nigeria, I love John Obi Mikel. I see myself playing at the highest level, possibly in the senior national team, Super Eagles. soon,” he said.
