RUSSIA 2018: Super Eagles know group stage foes today

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will today (Friday) discover their opponents in the group stages of next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia at a draw ceremony in Moscow.

The Nigerian team qualified for the global showpiece undefeated in a ‘group of death’ and have been placed in Pot 4 of the final draw, to be drawn with one team each from Pots 1, 2 and 3.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, the team’s goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu said he wants a “favourable World Cup draw” and he is “fervently praying for it.”

“We hope and sincerely pray that God will favour us while we move fast on our own part by working very hard towards a successful outing in Russia,” he said.

Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, who is currently in Russia for the draw, says each of the 32 teams except the hosts had gone through a tough qualifying process, and so, no team including the Super Eagles can be termed weak.

“All the teams that are in the Final Draw, except the host nation Russia, played qualifying matches. They all emerged from tough encounters and therefore, none can be tagged ‘weak.’,” said Rohr

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“There is no apprehension. If you have to be listed among the best, you have to conquer the better teams and even beat some of the best.

“Seriously speaking, every team has the right to dream. But we have our heads on our shoulders and our feet on the ground, and whatever draw comes, we will take it one match at a time,” he stated.

The draw ceremony takes place today at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia by 4:00p.m (Nigerian time).

And below are the Russia 2018 World Cup pots:

Pot 1: France, Belgium, Russia, Portugal, Poland, Brazil, Germany, Argentina.

Pot 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia

Pot 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran

Pot 4: Serbia, Australia, Nigeria, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia

Nigeria cannot be drawn with any team in Pot 4 and also cannot be drawn with fellow African teams – Tunisia, Egypt and Senegal – in Pot 3.

 

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