Buhari congratulates Eagles for their 4-0 win over Cameroon urging them to finish the job on Monday

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has sent a congratulatory message to the Super Eagles following their impressive 4-0 win over Cameroon's Indomitable Lions yesterday and urged them to follow it up with another win in the return leg on Monday.

At the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the Eagles thrashed Cameroon 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier thanks to goals from Odion Ighalo, Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho. On Monday, the team will face Cameroon in the away leg of the tie in Yaounde and a victory there would more or less guarantee qualification for Russia 2018.

Congratulating the team, President Buhari, urged the players to sustain the momentum as they approach the crucial second leg of the tie in Yaounde. A presidency spokesman said that President Buhari appreciates the role football plays in cementing unity among Nigerians and creating a sense of onesness.

"The president joins millions of football-loving Nigerians at home and in the diaspora in applauding the senior men’s football team for their disciplined, skilful and entertaining display against the defending African champions. President Buhari, while noting that with the exhilarating victory, Nigeria is on the verge of qualification for the World Cup in Russia 2018, urges the players to sustain the momentum as they approach the crucial second leg of the tie in Yaounde, on Monday.

"He enjoins Nigerians who always see football as a unifying platform, to continue to pray and support the team to guarantee victory next week and make qualification doubly sure. President Buhari also commends the Akwa Ibom State government for its continued support and provision of excellent hosting facilities."

Nigeria now has three matches left in the World Cup qualification series as after playing Cameroon away, the team will host Zambia and then play its final match away to Algeria. So far, Brazil, Iran, Japan, Mexico and hosts Russia have qualified for the 2018 World Cup and Nigeria is hoping to become the first African nation to join them.