From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Muhamamdu Buhari has through the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, tasked the Super Eagles to ensure they perform well at the Russia 2018 World Cup.
He urged the ministry to ensure that the country sustained the tempo of successes recorded in the sports sector in 2017.
Dalung made the disclosure at the weekend after a meeting he had with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The minister did not however disclose the minimum stage the President demanded the Eagles must reach at the competition.
“The President encouraged me to, in 2018, sustain the tempo of the successes recorded so far in 2017 especially with the World Cup in Russia.
He challenged me to ensure that Nigeria does not go to Russia as a mere spectator,” he said.
Dalung said he told the President that part of the strategies put in place by his ministry is to ensure that by March, all the Super Eagles’ players are paid their match, training and camp allowances upfront while their bonuses would however be in terms of their progression according to performance at the World Cup.
On how prepared the country is for the mundial, Dalung said: “For the World Cup, I think we have lined up so many friendlies to play with countries participating in the World Cup and top ranking countries that did not make it to Russia, so as to strengthen our team.”