Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr has called on players of the Super Eagles to win its next match against Cameroon.
Ikeme was looking forward to the game before he was diagnosed with acute leukemia.
The coach said rather than focusing the negatives, Rohr was quoted by a top NFF official that the ailment should be used to motivate other players.
“The technical adviser is turning it (Ikeme’s illness) to advantage to motivate the other players,” NFF second vice-president, Shehu Dikko, told reporters.
“He has been telling them to play and win the matches for Carl.
“Carl himself has been calling the players to win the game.”
Nigeria are top of their qualifying group with six points from two matches, while African champions Cameroon have two points.
Zambia and Algeria have a point each.
Already, world football governing body FIFA has confirmed September 4 as the date for the second leg 2018 World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, while Yaoundé has also been confirmed as the venue.
The first leg will be played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 1, with the return leg happening three days later in the Cameroonian capital.