Russia 2018: Nigeria chances are bright in group D – Ex Super Eagles, technocrats

Nigeria have been drawn in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group D along with Croatia, Argentina and Iceland, NATIONAL PILOT HEAD SPORTS, TOYIN SAHEED talked to Ex-Super Eagles players and sports enthusiasts on the chances of the Super Eagles’ World Cup group D opponents at the Mundial.
Akin Akinsehinde, Ex-Super Eagles player – experience will help us to qualify
If they can keep up the performance they showed against Argentina, we have a brighter chance to qualifying in that group.
I know the Croatia and Iceland have there too but we should be able to qualify with the crops of experience players we have.
Coach Amusa Adisa rtd (Ex Eagle Goalkeeper Trainer) – No push over teams in World Cup
Any team coming to the World Cup are not push over. When you look at the ground we find ourselves it’s a problem because we have Croatia who have been consistently going to World Cup, Iceland has performed very well in recent time and we have Argentina whom we just beat in recent friendly game we played. We should not judge that one, this is a World Cup so, all teams are going to prepare well for the competition, Nigeria should also follow suit. We should prepare very well if we want to do well at the World Cup.
Alhaji Mohammed Aluko – We shouldn’t joke with Iceland, Croatia
I think we have a better chance to qualifying to the second round. Croatia used to be formidable team during the days of Divor Zucka but since he has retired they have not been consistent.
Then, Iceland is an underdog team, therefore we should not joke with them. If our players are really determined and committed, we should be able to garner our six points before the game of Argentina.
Our game against Argentina should just be like a friendly game and the moment we qualify from group stages that will give us the courage to qualify for quarter final and even semifinal respectively because our boys are young and enterprising.
Tunde Akanbi (Ilorin) – We should not underrate any team
We cannot underrate any team, they all played to qualify and when it comes to the World Cup, no team is small. As far as I’m concerned our rate is very high, we played a friendly with Argentina and we won.
Talking about the other teams in our group, Iceland and Croatia are good as well and blessed with many young players as well so, I’m very optimistic that we are going to do well.
Wahab Oba Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Abdulfattah Ahmed) – Determination, commitment will help us
Firstly, I want to congratulates the team for qualifying to 2018 Word Cup in Russia.
So far, the preliminary matches and the friendly game we have played and the kind of determination, commitment and unity of purpose among our team members have given us very high hope that Nigeria will qualify to the next round, possibly with Argentina. Also beating Argentina in a recent friendly game gave us advantage over them.
M. J Daudu Chairman Sure Babes FC – Nigeria, Argentina will qualify
We have a good chance to make it in the group if there is seriousness in our boys. We always finish Argentina any time we play friendly with them before the World Cup. If Argentina qualifies, I think Nigeria too should qualify but we have to be careful of Croatia, Iceland can also be a surprise so, we have to tighten our belts in order to have a good outing at the tournament.
Gesinde Adedeji Fregene – Nigeria should not celebrate the group
Nigeria shouldn’t be happy with yesterday’s draw because Croatia and Iceland are not push over because some of their players are in better teams even than our players. Some of them are playing in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and the rest. We should not be carried away with the fixtures. We should start an early preparation and the Coach too should select the players based on merit in order to have better chance to qualify from the group.