Gbenga Moses, a former Nigeria international was a goalkeeper and an outfield player who played in numerous local clubsides — former IBL Ilesha, former Bendel Insurance, Iwuanyawu National, Kano Pillars, Julius Berger among others, before hanging his boots and ventured into the corporate world. An ex-international of no mean repute, Moses was on the bench when Nigeria took on Cameroon in an Italia ’90 qualifier in Ibadan.

Super Eagles players pose for a picture before the match against Poland

He said the injuries in Super Eagles camp should not give anybody sleepless nights because one cannot talk football and not talk about injuries.

“Injuries are not peculiar to Nigeria,” he said, explaining, “that is part of the game. You cannot take injury out of football. But what I can say is that the number of players Nigeria has can sustain the national team in any competition.

We should not be afraid of whether there will be injuries or not. What we should concentrate on is the strategies the coaches would use to win matches at the World Cup. Injury or no injury, I believe we have a team.”

He expatiated his optimism. “For a couple of years now we have not had the kind of confidence Nigerians have now in their team. We have not had the crop of players that we have now. Going by the number of matches that the present coach has played, you will agree with me that he has done creditably well. Both friendly and competitive matches, look at the results, you will see he has done well.”

Moses would not however predict how far the team can go. “The team can go as far as the technical abilities of the coaches. You know sometimes, it is about the coaches. It is about the strategies and tactics employed by the coaches that propel a team, that can determine the outcome of a match.

“Then you also talk about luck. The element of luck in football is vital. You can play all the best football, use all the tactics and you don’t have the luck it will amount to zero. We should also pray for Mother luck.”