Former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke has predicted a tough Qatar 2022 World Cup even as he picked both Argentina and Spain as overwhelming favourites to go all the way.
While Argentina will be gunning for their third World Cup title in Qatar following their success at the 1978 finals on home soil and Diego Maradona-inspired conquest at Mexico 1986, Spain for all her footballing pedigree will be eyeing a second title following the success at the 2014 finals in Brazil.
But speaking from Lusaka where he’s currently tinkering with Zambia’ s super division side Zanaco FC, Amuneke was of the view that the La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue) and La Roja (The Red One) can ride their luck yet again at Qatar 2022.
“Unfortunately, Nigeria will not be there (Qatar 2022) and as a result, I will be supporting Argentina because they are always my favourite at the World Cup since I was a kid, “ Amuneke, the former African Footballer of the Year, told NationSport. “I’ve always admired their style of playing.
“ Of course, this World Cup is going to be interesting with lot of teams coming with some great players as such, it would be a very tough contest in Qatar.
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“ But having said that, I also believed that Spain also have the opportunity and the possibility of winning the world cup again.”
Amuneke who featured at the USA 1994 World Cup with the Super Eagles , however , admitted that the five African flagbearers (Morocco, Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia and Senegal) would have to brace for the expected challenges at Qatar 2022.
“ Sure, I would have loved to see an African country winning the World Cup and doing very well but we all know it’s going to be very difficult,” noted the former Barcelona winger.
“ As far as the World Cup is concerned, the road to success is always under construction as such, I will stick to the team that I have supported since I was a kid which is Argentina.
“Argentina have a team and if they can maintain their recent consistency, they can win the World Cup
Again,” he noted.