Odemwingie backs Nigeria to make Rio de Janeiro

Peter Odemwingie sees no reason why Nigeria are not capable of reaching the World Cup final, if they play to their potential.

The Stoke City forward scored the only goal of the game against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday to put Nigeria on the verge of qualifying for the last 16 in Brazil.

Odemwingie believes Nigeria have what it takes to go all the way to the final and the 32-year-old revealed that he is not the only one who is optimistic about their chances.

“I saw a Brazilian on the street who told me he foresaw Nigeria playing the final against Brazil and I said to myself ‘why not’, going by the level of our players and the fact that they are yet to peak,” he said.

“But mark my words - we have a very resilient defence, a creative midfield and an attack force that can trouble any defence in the world. If we played to our potentials, we can go all the way.”

The African champions only need a point against Argentina at Estadio Beira-Rio on Wednesday to ensure they will progress from Group F along with their opponents, and they will also be guaranteed to go through if Iran fail to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Keshi is ‘Mr Know-it-all’

Nigeria have not featured beyond the group stage of a World Cup since 1998. At the same time, the Nigeria Football Federation assistant technical director has blasted coach Stephen Keshi for turning down counsels of his senior colleagues.

Assistant technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation James Peters has attacked Super Eagle head coach Stephen Keshi for disregarding the country’s senior coaches and acting as if he knew all.

The former Super Eagle assistant coach who is currently in Brazil for the 2014 Fifa World Cup said efforts to provide more technical input for the Eagles technical crew have been frustrated by the former Mali gaffer.

“This is a major problem I think we have in this country, it is not the fault of the NFF, it is the fault of the coach - he should know that we once coached him at the same time his seniors in this profession,” Peters told NigeriaNewsWatch.

“I think he should have asked the NFF to allow us work with him in an advisory capacity, not to stay with him in the same hotel.
“You can see the Brazilian bench- you see Calos Alberto Periera and you see Zalgado and Scolari and his assistants. They are there putting heads together, he continued.

“We should have put our heads together but I think it is because Keshi does not want it. If he wants it he should have asked. If he asked he would have recieved and if the federation goes ahead to force us on him, it would be seen as interfering in his work.

“So, I think we are just here like onlookers and fans to watch the world cup. The federation want us to be here in a higher capacity but their hands are tied because they could be accused of interfering.

“You may want to recall that sometimes before the World Cup, the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation made effort to engage a foreign technical assistant to Stephen Keshi but he firmly resisted it saying he does not need it,” he concluded. (Goal.com)
Lionel Messi fans

Tens of thousands of Lionel Messi fans are expected to make the trip up from Argentina to this southern port city for the closing Group F clash where a draw would secure the Nigerians the all important runners-up spot after Peter Odemwingie’s goal against Bosnia-Hercegovina in Cuiaba on Saturday ended the west Africans’ nine-match World Cup winless run.

Defeat to Argentina, who sit top with wins over Iran and Bosnia, could still see Stephen Keshi’s men prolong their stay in Brazil, if Iran fail to beat Bosnia up in Salvador.

And Fifa might even have to get out their straws for the drawing of lots should Iran win 1-0 and Nigeria lose by the same score, leaving the sides inseparable on points, goal difference, number of goals and head-to-head.

Significant incentive

Argentina approach the game with their noses put out of joint by media criticism of their performances so far, with only Messi’s goals against Bosnia and Iran saving their blushes.

“Obviously it hurts when you hear people saying that they don’t like you, when people say different things to us,” Real Madrid forward Angel Di Maria said at the weekend.

Messi, who turned 27 yesterday, and his teammates have a significant incentive to notch up their third win here and top the table as that would mean likely avoiding Didier Deschamps’s impressive France for a second round date instead with Group E’s runners-up, likely to Ecuador or Switzerland, although Honduras could still snatch that honour.

The two-time former champions may have failed to set the 2014 World Cup stage alight in their opening forays but Messi predicts the Argentine pot is slowly coming to the boil.

“We are not showing what we can do, but with a run of games I think we will get there,” said Barcelona’s four time World Player of the Year. Messi’s priceless influence was noted yet again by coach Alejandro Sabella after his late coup de grace against Iran.

“All the players contributed to the victory but of course we have a genius who is called Messi. Fortunately he is Argentine — everyone would like to have Messi but it is us who have him. “Iran made life hard for us but with Messi, everything is possible.” (AFP)