Nigeria’s Super Eagles can beat their Argentina counterpart at the FIFA World Cup billed for Russia next month.
Ex-internationals, Taribo West and Mutiu Adepoju, made this prediction yesterday at a “Legends meet Media” event hosted by the Nigerian Breweries PLC in Lagos.
The Eagles will be locking it out with the Argentine team in Group D of the game on June 26.
The Nigerian football legends said the Eagles may beat Argentina if they prepare well ahead of their pitch encounter.
According to former Eagles’ Defender, Pastor Taribo West, the team must be focused, agile and plan very well to win the game.
Commenting on the expected impact of Barcelonia star and Argentine striker, Lionel Messi, during match with the Eagles, West urged the Eagles team to “follow the opponents” anywhere on the field.
“Follow your man anywhere. For you to do that for the 90-minutes game, you have to be physically strong, fast and energetic so you can go anywhere.”
He added: “There are so many ways he (Messi) can be stopped. But I don’t think we have that kind of strategies the coach will deployed with the team yet. But, they (Eagles) should play the game and not put pressure on themselves because of Messi. If Argentina has Messi, we have Mikel Obi. They should just play as a team.
“After collective preparation, each Super Eagles should prepare himself; behind every match success you see, there is good preparation. I think the best team that would win this World Cup is a team that has prepared itself well.
“I’ve played against Crespo so many times in the Italian leagues, and also in the finals against Argentina. I prayed the same spirit with which I tackled him (on field) will follow our current generation of Super Eagles.”
Also speaking, Ex-Super Eagles forward, Mutiu Adepoju said the Nigerian team has all it takes to send their Argentine counterpart home.
“Although Nigeria and Argentina have always been at loggerhead in so many games, but this time around, we (Nigeria) are going to win,” Adepoju said.
Football legends who graced the event include former Argentine & Chelsea striker, Hernan Crespo, and his Nigerian counterparts, including Austine Eguavoen, Uche Okechukwu, and Samson Siasia.
