Russia 2018: Hopes high as Nigeria draw Argentine in Group D -

Following the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw that took place Friday in Moscow, which seemed as good venue to unveil valuable information of vital global interest. Nigeria was drawn with Argentina, Croatia and Iceland in World Cup Group D and Nigerians have expressed hope that Super Eagles would be making it through to the last-16.

The Super Eagles have been drawn against Argentina once again for the fifth time in the World Cup since 1994. Probably the most delicately balanced, most interesting, and most competitive of all the groups. Argentina only just qualified, Croatia has an abundance of individual talent, Iceland a tremendous collective strength and Nigeria possibly the toughest fourth seed to draw. Argentina will not be happy at all.

In the final draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the 32 participating nations in Moscow on Friday evening, Nigeria and Argentina were drawn together in Group D. The two countries first met in 1994 World Cup. They met again at the group stage three other times. They will meet again in Russia next year.
Also in the group are Croatia and Iceland.

Nigeria will face Croatia in their opening match. Football fans are full of optimism that Nigeria we will go all the way to the quarterfinals. Former Super Eagles forward, Victor Ikpeba in his Twitter handle said the draw is a favourable one for Nigeria

Victor Ikpeba‏Verified account
@V_Ikpeba
Fair World Cup Draw for the Super Eagles

Argentina is Nigeria’s nightmare team at the FIFA World Cup, on four previous attempts, the Super Eagles have lost against the South Americans. Can Super Eagles be fifth time lucky or best we avoid them? Messi is the only difference in Argentina. Super Eagles will fly high in that group D and very possible to come out to a round of 16. Coach Gernot Rohr reacts to 2018 FIFA World Cup Draw, says Group D is filled with good teams and playing Argentina again will make things tougher for us.

Recall that, Nigeria has never defeated Argentina at the World Cup. The two sides have met four times and Argentina has won in all the meetings. Nigeria lost 1-2 to Argentina at USA 1944; lost 0-1 at South Korea/Japan and South Africa 2010 and lost 2-3 at Brazil in 2014. Reacting to the draw, Super Eagles technical adviser said the draw is a fair one and is optimistic his side will progress to the next round. “We have to prepare well and win our first two games, our first game will be against Croatia, we also need to play good friendlies, especially Serbia, because they play similar football with Croatia, “ Rohr said. Speaking on Argentina in the same group with Nigeria, Rohr added it would not be like the friendly game, but a difficult game.

“It is not easy to play Argentina, they are a very good team. We know them a little, but it’s more difficult now than in the friendly, now they how we play and we cannot surprise them as we did in the friendly. Messi will be playing r Argentina and its more difficult. “Iceland is also a difficult team; very strong and have the best fan in Europe. It’s an interesting group and the last group game against Argentina might be the decider.

Haven defeat Argentina in a friendly, Nigeria should approach the game with boldness and confidence with the mindset of defeating them. Nigeria was the first African country to book a berth in Russia and finished unbeaten in Africa’s Group B, winning all their home games with two draws and a victory away under German coach Gernot Rohr.

The nation, which is the only one of Africa’s five representatives from the last World Cup who returns for the 2018 edition in Russia, will be looking to get into the last round of 16 in Brazil.
Already, a crop of exciting youngsters headlines the national team representing Africa’s most populous nation including Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, Henry Onyekuru and Moses Simon represent a new generation that has emerged since the 2014 finals as Nigeria surprisingly qualified easily from a tough group that included Algeria, who also reached the second round of the last World Cup, and African champions Cameroon.