Speaking on the World Sport programme of the Cable News Network (CNN) from the station's London studio on Monday,  Nigeria Football Federation supremo Amaju Pinnick, who is a Member of the CAF Executive Committee has stressed the importance of African stars Victor Moses, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to their English clubs.

The aforementioned players are set to represent Nigeria, Egypt and Senegal respectively at next summer's football festival in Russia.

Egypt face hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia in Group A of the World Cup, Senegal have been pitted against Poland, Colombia and Japan in Group H and the Super Eagles battle Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in Group D.

"We have a coach who has the mentality of a winner, and he has imbibed the players with the same attitude,'' Pinnick was quoted as saying by thenff.com. 

''We can do very well at the World Cup in Russia. I am very delighted that we have a team for tomorrow; a team for the next (2022) World Cup finals.

"African players light up the English Premiership every weekend. Liverpool FC appear not to be able to do without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and Chelsea FC sometimes struggle without Victor Moses. We have bright prospects in Russia."

Moses, Salah and Mane have been shortlisted for the CAF and BBC African Footballer of the Year 2017.

Igho Kingsley