Keshi’s Dream Super Eagles Spirit…


Team Line up of Super Eagles - Nigeria vs USA.

Team Line up of Super Eagles – Nigeria vs USA.

Planet Football looked altogether different the last time Nigeria or Iran, who kick off their Group F adventure at Curitiba’s box-like Baixada Arena today, won a match at a World Cup.

Back then, in another millennium, Brazil were the reigning champions while Spain wondered whether their long record of failure would ever end.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was a sprightly 60-something, Neymar only six and Lionel Messi a 10-year-old talent in the making.

Since France 1998, when Nigeria were a power to be reckoned with after beating Spain and Bulgaria to top their group, the Super Eagles have struggled to get off the ground in the tournament proper.

This time, however, they have every chance of making a flying start.

Today’s is a match both sides will see as a must-win if they are to have any chance of progressing from a group that includes Messi’s heavily-fancied Argentina and exciting debutants Bosnia.

Coach Stephen ‘Big Boss’ Keshi, who captained the 1994 Nigerian side that reached the second round as winners of a group that also included former champions Argentina, is hoping to rekindle some of that magic.

Then, as now, Nigeria arrive as the African champions and even if their current squad is unpredictable and lacking the charisma and firepower of old, they will still start as favourites.

“The 1994 squad was a beautiful squad. It is my dream to have that spirit in this present squad. To have the unity, the oneness, the commitment, the togetherness, that would be great,” Keshi said earlier this month. REUTERS

in Football, sports, World news. Tags: ARGENTINA, , Keshi, Lionel Messi, Nigeria, Nigeria vs Iran, President Sepp Blatter, Spain, Super Eagles

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