Russians Hail Nigeria For WC Qualification Despite Changing Three Coaches

The Russian media has profiled the 22 teams guaranteed to participate at next summer's World Cup in Russia, and the fact that the Nigeria Football Federation changed three coaches during the qualifiers was highlighted.

For the CAF second round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh was in the dugout when the national team beat Swaziland over two legs in November 2015.

Oliseh later resigned his appointment in February 2016, citing unfulfilled contractual obligations, and Samson Siasia took over from the former Ajax Amsterdam midfielder on an interim basis.

In the third round of the qualifiers, the Nigerian Federation went for an expatriate coach in Gernot Rohr and the German delivered the World Cup ticket with a game to spare.

''During the qualifying period for the national team of Nigeria, three coaches changed, but this did not affect the result in any way,'' wrote championat.com.

''Nigerians were the first in the African group, who secured the right to play at the World Cup in Russia.''

List Of Qualified Countries For 2018 World Cup

Russia (Host)
Brazil
Iran
Japan
Mexico
Belgium
South Korea
Saudi Arabia
Germany
England
Spain
Nigeria
Costa Rica
Poland
Egypt
Iceland
Serbia
Portugal
France
Uruguay
Argentina
Colombia
Panama

Igho Kingsley