ADO Den Haag defender Tyronne Ebuehi was delighted that Nigeria qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and explained that Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr contacted him before omitting him from the 23 players he summoned for the crucial game versus Zambia.

The Dutch-born youngster revealed that Nigeria have shown they are one of the top teams in Africa after sealing a World Cup berth ahead of Africa's most successful team at the World Cup Cameroon and North African giants Algeria.

''The qualification has shown that we are one of the strongest countries in Africa,'' Ebuehi told northside.nl.

''We have players from big clubs. John Obi Mikel, he is the biggest. And then you have Victor Moses from Chelsea and Alex Iwobi from Arsenal. Boys playing in the top. It's nice that I can train with such players.''

When asked why Rohr didn't invite him against Zambia, Ebuehi answered : ''I have not got an explanation. However, I received a message from the coach. He thought I had done it the last time. When I sit there again, of course, it is also for me.

''I have to make sure I stay sharp and perform well. Getting a World Cup is a dream. That's definitely a motivation to do better with Ado Den Haag and show myself. I will take every effort to be there. ''

Tyronne Ebuehi has not played competitively for the Super Eagles, and was an unused sub in World cup qualifiers against Cameroon and the AFCON qualifier against South Africa in June 2017.

Igho Kingsley