Former Super Eagles forward Daniel Amokachi has made the strongest prediction ever, on the chances of Africa’s participation in this year’s FIFA World Cup, claiming that Nigeria will emerge world champions for the first time.

Super Eagles coach  Gernot Rohr has picked two players from 2018 CHAN to be part of his World Cup preparations – goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa and central defender Stephen Eze.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri said on Tuesday he hoped to be in Russia to watch matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off this summer in 11 cities across the country.

Against the backdrop of very high expectations among Nigerians, including the Nigeria Football Federation hierarchy on Nigeria’s prospects at the Russia 2018, Super Eagles handler, Gernot Rohr has a very modest ambition.

More than three million tickets have been requested for by football fans for the World Cup finals in Russia in the current sales phase, football governing body FIFA said on Monday.

Super Eagles World Cup foes Argentina and Croatia have finalised warm-up games in March leading up to Russia 2018.

It has been confirmed that up and coming Super Eagles striker, Henry Onyekuru faces up to six months on the sidelines with a knee injury, that could rule him out the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who was banned for life from the Olympic Games this month over doping, said on Wednesday that he is stepping down as chairman of the 2018 World Cup organising committee.

Super Eagles and Chelsea of England wing back, Victor Moses has said that his only regret this year was his “being squeezed out of the three-man shortlist  to become African Player of the Year”, behind Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Egypt’s Mo Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane – a decision that angered the Nigerian Football Federation.

Iceland and Everton midfield maestro Gylfi Sigurðsson has commented on the 2018 World Cup draw and thinks that the Nordic country are in a difficult group that also contains Argentina, Nigeria and Croatia.

Former national goalkeeper Peter Rufai has urged Super Eagles players not to be discouraged by Nigeria’s latest FIFA rankings as they prepare for Russia 2018.

Former Super Eagles coach, Johannes Bonfrere said Nigerian players and coaches can avoid a defeat against Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup if they prepare hard and come up with the right tactics.

Up and coming goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho hinted that he will be man enough to keep the Super Eagles safe in the 2018 FIFA tournament in Russia, if the coaches give him the nod to become number 1.

For the first time ever no World Cup matches will be broadcast by Italian state television after Mediaset won the right to screen next year’s tournament which will be missing four-time champions Italy.

Senegal international Mame Biram Diouf admitted that it will be difficult to beat the country’s achievement in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan.