Bar .Seyi Akinwumi, First Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), has said that with Lionnel Messi or no Lionnel Messi in the Argetine squad, the Super Eagles will beat the Argies when the two teams clash again, the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports.
Akinwumi, who spoke exclusively with NAN on the Super Eagles’ preparation for the forthcoming 2018 World Cup in Russia, said that Nigeria has the players to repeat the feat again when the two sides come across each other.
“I learnt that some people are saying that Nigeria defeated Argentina in the pre-World Cup friendly in Russia because Lionnel Messi, the Argies’ mecuria star was not featured.
“I want to assure you that with ‘Messi or no Messi’, Eagles will beat Argentina again,” he said.
During a pre-World Cup friendly,in Nov.2017, the Super Eagles players came back from two goals down in the first half to beat Argentine team without Lionnel Messi 4-2.
The NFF First Vice President, who is banking on the crop of young talents and a technically sound coach in Garnet Rohr in Eagles’ fold, said Nigeria was battle ready to confront the World in Russia, vis- a –vis the Argentine squad.
“Most of our players like Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Odion Ighalo and Brian Idowu are doing well in their respective clubsides abroad. And learnt that Mikel Obi and Wilfred Ndidi’s injuries are not too serious as they have started playing again.
“Also, with the Eagles’ Superlative performance in the friendlies, beaten Argentina and Poland 4-2 and 2-1 respectively, Nigeria is roaring to go,” he said.
Akinwumi, who re-confirmed Port Harcourt as the venue for the Nigeria/Congo DR clash on May 22, however, assured that the team will get better when the players move into full camping.
“Full preparation for the World Cup will commence when the players will move into camp against Congo DR, after the remaining two friendlies against Congo DR May 22 and England on June 2, a good team would have evolved,” he said.
Assuring the Super Eagles players of a good welfare package, efficient transportation, funding, feeding and medicals inclusive during the final camping in Austria, the NFF Official said that the team would be in good stead in Russia.
The Supers Eagles are drawn in the same group with Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in the first round of their Russia World Cup campaign.
