by Alexander O. Onukwue
For the third consecutive tournament, Nigeria will play Argentina at the group stages of the 2018 World Cup Finals to be held in Russia next summer.
The draws held on December 1 at the Moscow State Kremlin revealed Nigeria will be in Group D with the two-time champions and runner-ups of the 2014 edition, and will be joined by Croatia and debutants Iceland.
Only at the 1998 Finals in France did Nigeria not meet Argentina at a World Cup. In the four tournaments since Nigeria’s first appearance at the global soccer fiesta in 1994, Nigeria has qualified from the Group stages on two occasions – ’94 and 2014 – but did not make it out of the group from an Argentina group in 2002 and 2010.
Given the number of times both nations have met, it could be argued that Nigeria should now understand better how to prepare for and prosecute a World Cup game against La Albiceleste. A recent 4 – 2 exhibition victory would inspire some confidence, even if that Argentine team was without its talisman, Lionel Messi.
Nigeria’s plan in qualifying from the Group next year could seek to imitate the plan from 2014. At the tournament in Brazil, the Super Eagles qualified as the second best from the Group which included Bosnia, and Iran after nicking a one-goal win over the former and playing out a goalless draw with the latter. However, the opposition in Russia will be considerably tougher as both Croatia and Iceland performed reasonably well in their qualifying games.
Iceland, the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, topped their group to make it to the finals, following up an impressive debut at Euro 2016 last year where they beat England at the quarter-final stage. Croatia who made their debut at the World Cup in 1998 finishing at third-place boasts A-list players in Europe such as the Real Madrid duo of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic, Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic and Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic. They will be looking to bounce back from a poor outing in Brazil where there only win was a 4-0 rout of Cameroon.
Accessing the chances of other African countries, a look across the other groups drawn for the 2018 World Cup show that the continent’s best ranked team, Egypt, in a relatively easier group than the other four teams. Boasting the continent’s best player in Mohammed Salah and with the motivation of a first appearance at the global event in 28 years, they will have much confidence facing the main threat in Group A which will be Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani’s Uruguay. Morocco will have their work cut out against Cristiano Ronaldo and company, as well as 2010 World Champions Spain. North Africa’s third representative, Tunisia, will face England, Belgium and new boys Panama, while Sadio Mane’s Senegal will play Colombia and Japan, the two teams faced by Cote D’Ivoire at the 2014 finals.
A lot of football will come between now and when the hostilities are set to kick off in Moscow next year. But players around the world will now be watchful of their performances and be mindful about not picking up needless injuries. For Nigeria, attention will heighten on players who are performing best for their clubs. The quality of the opposition awaiting the Super Eagles next year should require that every single one of the 23 who eventually makes the plane would be there on form and fitness, ability and, to a lesser extent, contribution to the qualifying campaign.
Perhaps with the exception of Vincent Enyeama; knowing how well he has performed against Lionel Messi at the 2010 and 2014 meets, almost being singularly responsible for keeping the score margins at not more than one goal deficits, should he be recalled to the squad?
Read » 2018 World Cup Draw: “Argentina again?” Two African nations in groups of death and more on YNaija
2018 World Cup Draw: “Argentina again?” Two African nations in groups of death and more
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