Nigeria will later this evening trade tackles with England in an international friendly meant to prepare both teams for the task of competing at the World Cup in Russia.
The super star of the Argentina Lionel Messi has sent a timely warning to teams who will be facing Nigeria about how difficult it is to play against the West African side.
Messi has faced the Super Eagles of Nigeria thrice, twice at the World Cup and once in an international friendly and the forward who will once again line up for Argentina against Nigeria reckons it has never been easy playing against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
He made this known why analysing the group D opponents of Argentina at the World Cup , where many expect him to banish his international woes with the senior national team of Argentina and lead them to a trophy for the first time since he became the talisman of the team.
“Iceland are a team that showed in the last European Championship that they are difficult for anyone. With Iceland you have to be very patient. You move the ball around and find the spaces. Iceland is a team that closes down in the back, they reduce spaces and were awesome in the Euros”, Messi said in a recent interview.
They were a surprise then, but they are not a surprise anymore as they won their qualifying group. Croatia have a midfield that plays very well, it is a style like Spain but one level below, and Nigeria always challenge us, they are always tough against us.
“We always had so much trouble against them. It is a tough group, but we have to believe we are going to advance. But it is not going to be easy.”
Osas Mahawi
