Nigeria's amputee football team prepares for World Cup debut

Nigeria's national amputee football team are seen on crutches during a training session in a field at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

LAGOS (Reuters) - Sixteen years after Emmanuel Ibeawuchi lost a leg in a road accident, his dream of playing soccer in a World Cup is about to become a reality.

He will captain Nigeria's team when it makes its debut at the Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico in October.

An amputee footballer stands on crutches during a training session for Nigeria's national amputee football team in a field at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

The team hopes to follow in the footsteps of Nigeria's disabled athletes who won eight gold medals at the 2016 Paralympics, along with two silver and two bronze medals, to finish 17th in the medal table and top among African countries.

"We are the best all over the world so whatever we do we excel," said Ibeawuchi, a 38-year-old bus conductor, citing the success of Nigerian disabled athletes across a range of sports.

"There is no difference between one leg and two legs in terms of football because it is the same rules," added the father-of-three who has played the game since his lower right leg was amputated a few inches below his knee.

An amputee footballer stands on crutches during a training session for Nigeria's national amputee football team in a field at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

The amputee tournament will take place just months after the World Cup in Russia where Nigeria's team, known as the Super Eagles, failed to qualify from the group stage. The squad has been training in the commercial capital of Lagos, using crutches during games set on dusty brown soil.

Like many cities across Africa, there are few facilities in public spaces for disabled people in Lagos, a city of around 23 million people.

Team coach Victor Nwewe said this makes disabled athletes less visible, a factor that affects the confidence of some players.

Nigeria's national amputee football team gather to pray before the start of a training session in a bare field at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

"We have put it in them that they should see themselves as equally good as an able person," he said, arguing that his team, known as the Special Eagles, can outperform their counterpart's short-lived appearance at the World Cup in Russia.

"Since then all of them have the confidence now that they can even do better than the able bodied," he said.

Amputee footballers on crutches play with a ball during a training session for Nigeria's national amputee football team in a field at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

(Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)

Nigeria's national amputee football team gather to pray before the start of a training session in a bare field at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Tunde Ogunmefun poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Ibrahim Yusuf poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Mohammed Umar poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Fatai Abdulazeez poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Abel Peters poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Daniel Ahize poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Ndubusi Ejiofor poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Bolaji Olaogun poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Kelvin Kingsley poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Madubuchi Mbachu poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Emmanuel Ibeawuchi sits with his family at his residence in the Aguda district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Olayemi Ogidan poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Dare Kokoye poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Ugochukwu Obieze poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Austine Ugwu poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Victor Sani poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Monday Williams poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Suraju Yisa poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district, in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Amputee football player Oyeyemiojo Shola poses for a portrait photograph after a training session at the national stadium in Surulere district in Lagos, Nigeria July 6, 2018. Picture taken July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye