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Category: World Cup Russia 2018

World Cup 2018

  • World Cup: Psychic pig picks Super Eagles for semi final

    With just hours to the World Cup in Russia, a pig name mystic Marcus has predicted that Nigeria, alongside Belgium, Uruguay and Argentina, will progress to the Semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup starting on Thursday in Russia.

    Mystic Marcus has a 100 per cent track record of predicting sports results according to his owner Juliette Stevens, Daily Mail report.

    ‘For one football match he didn’t eat any of the apples and it turned out to be a draw. It’s really bizarre’ she said.

    “I can’t remember which team it was but in the last World Cup there was a team that nobody thought would win a game – not in a million years and he got it right”.

    The black micro pig has previously guessed the winner of the 2014 World Cup and the Wimbledon tennis finals by picking apples.

    It also rightly predicted that Donald Trump to become the president of the United States of America and the Brexit campaign.

    Now Mystic Marcus is putting his skills to the test once more by forecasting the semi-finalists for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

    Mystic Marcus expects Belgium, Argentina, Nigeria and Uruguay to make it through.

    He made the predictions by gobbling up apples bearing the flags of the nations.

    Juliette used 32 apples with flags of the all the participating countries and Mystic Marcus was made to eat the four semi-finalists. After eating Argentina, he sniffed out Saudi Arabia and Iran before choosing Nigeria

    The other countries he picked out were Belgium, Argentina and Uruguay.

    Mystic Marcus prediction is a reminiscent of the psychic octopus named Paul, which made accurate predictions in the 2010 World Cup.

  • W/ Cup kicks off today as Russia battles Saudi Arabia

     

    Finally, today’s here!

    The much awaited 2018 World cup in Russia kicks off today with Host country Russia taking on Saudi Arabia at the 81,000 capacity Luzhniki Stadium. The opener is expected to be watched by millions of spectators across the globe and will be coming after a planned breath taking opening ceremony in which English singer Robbie Williams will be performing.

    The pressure no doubt will be on Russia who had automatic qualification as hosts and who will be playing in front of their home fans and expected to begin their campaign on a winning note.

    The Coach Stanislav Cherchesov’s tutored side has not been in good form ahead of this summer’s finals, with defeats to Brazil and France in March forcing the hosts to double effort in preparation and whatever they have been able to do after those defeats will be showcased today in Moscow.

    Permutations ahead of the opening match indicate that Russia stand 67% chance of winning while Saudi Arabia have 11% chance of pulling surprise a win with 22% chance of the tie ending in a draw.

    A win against Saudi Arabia’s Green Eagles will be a huge ginger ahead of tough group clashes against Egypt and Uruguay. Many believe the cheapest tie the hosts can have is today’s opener.

    In 1993 when the this two teams met in an international friendly played at the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sport City Stadium, Al Khobar, the  Saudis ran away with a 4-2 victory

    Interestingly both teams go into the opener with not so impressive pre-world cup runs. Russia have not been able to pull a win in their friendly ties leading the opener and Saudi Arabia on the other hand lost three matches against Italy, Peru and Germany. Formidable opponents you may say, likely to ginger them to want to fight to the finish to tell their countrymen that the friendly matches really don’t matter much but it is performance in the real championship that matters.

    The second match for both teams will not be a tea party and it does appear that win for either side will be a good way to start as it may turn out to be the only victory they can record in the Group.

    Russia may have massive home support but they will be sure to have strong challenge from the Saudis.

    Interestingly it will be the first World cup where the goal-line technology or VAR system will be put into use, aside from that the Referees at the World Cup will wear specifically developed Hublot watches, designed to assist them with VAR.

    The unique edition – that is limited to 2018 pieces and features 32 dials inspired by the flags of the participating countries in this summer’s tournament – will be connected to goal-line technology and an electronic video assistance

    The newly-developed watch will be in use for the first time when hosts Russia kick-off the World Cup in their Group A game against Saudi Arabia on Thursday so the issue of officiating may not be a problem.

    Thirty two countries qualified for the Russian showdown and five African countries Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia. Many expect Nigeria and Senegal to rise to the occasion building on their pedigree and experience.  The game has started it is only naturally to sit tight enjoy battle royal as it unfolds, let the war begin!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Football showpiece begins in Russia

    The 2018 FIFA World Cup gets underway today when hosts Russia face Saudi Arabia following an opening ceremony at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

    Football’s showpiece event features 32 teams, including holders Germany, competing in 64 games over 32 days.

    The 21st edition will be played out in 12 stadiums, across 11 cities, spread over 1,800 miles.

    England, winners in 1966, are the only team from the home nations to qualify and start against Tunisia on June 18.

    Germany, which defeated Argentina in 2014 final, is looking to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since 1962, while Brazil seeks a record-extending sixth world title.

    The month-long tournament is expected to attract one and a half million fans to Russia and an estimated global television audience of over three billion viewers.

    There are eight groups, each containing four teams, with the top two advancing to the last 16. The final takes place at the 81,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium on July 15 (16:00 BST).

    World Cup holders Germany, five-time winners Brazil, Euro 2016 winners Portugal, 2014 runners-up Argentina, Belgium, Poland and 1998 winners France are among the eight seeded teams.

    Hosts Russia is also seeded, even though they are the tournament’s lowest-placed team – 70th – in FIFA’s world rankings.

    England, which has won only one of their past eight World Cup matches, is unseeded, as are 2010 champions Spain.

    Germany has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the past four editions of the competition and after being the only team to progress through European qualifying matches with a 100 percent record, are expected to be in the shake-up again. They are in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea.

    “Germany will be hunted like never before,” said head coach Joachim Low. “Only we, as world champions, have anything to lose.”

    Brazil is the only nation to have featured at every single World Cup but they have not won the tournament since 2002, while you have to go back to 1958 to the last time they won it on European soil.

    Yet the Brazilians will fancy their chances, particularly as Neymar, who cost a world record £200m when he moved from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain in August 2017, has returned to action after a broken foot.

    Spain features several Champions League winners from Real Madrid in their squad as they look to recapture the magic that saw them crowned world champions eight years ago and European champions in 2008 and 2012.

  • We need to work harder, says Mikel Obi

    Captain of the Nigeria National Team, Mikel Obi has stated that they have stepped up their preparations for their World Cup opener against Croatia on Saturday evening under the guidance of Gernot Rohr.

    According to the former Chelsea star, he is satisfied with the training facilities at the Super Eagles base camp in Yessentuki.

    ”We need to continue to work hard, we need to continue to train and do exactly what we want and what the coach asks for us,” Mikel told reporters, including TASS.

    ”I think it’s (the base camp) good, the field is very good, the fans and the children who came to support us are amazing.

    ”It was nice that after the training we had the opportunity to give some autographs to the guys. We are in a very good place, I believe.”

    Rohr said that the players are ready physically and he will use the next three days to work on tactics and technique.

    Nigeria will also face Iceland (June 22, Volgograd) and Argentina (June 26, St. Petersburg) in Group D of the World Cup.

  • World Cup: I don’t know these Eagles – Messi

    Argentina captain Lionel Messi has revealed that the present crop of the Super Eagles of Nigeria are not known to him, but is aware they are a strong side that can cause problems for any opponent.

    Both teams clash on June 26 in the last game of group D at the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Saint Petersburg, a result that Messi says won’t be as important as the Iceland and Croatia encounters which the South Americans are aiming to win before facing their Africa opponents.

    “It will be important to start strongly. Iceland did well in their last tournament so the first match
    will not be comfortable. But these are the ones to win if you don’t want the next matches to be even
    more complicated.”

    We don’t know so much about Nigeria but the African teams are normally compact, tough and strong. So it will be no walkover,” Messi told UK tabliod, Express.co.uk.

    “We know it won’t be easy but I’m certain that Argentina has a squad capable of being a champion in
    Russia. If the players all believe the same then we can be contenders.”

    Argentina and Nigeria will be meeting for the fifth time at the World Cup with Nigeria yet to win the
    La Albiceleste in previous outings.

  • Top ten African players in FIFA World Cup history

    Even though no African country has exceeded the quarter finals of FIFA World Cup till date, their individual talents right from the inception of this tournament have become spectacular over the years.

    With the FIFA World Cup right beginning June 14th, every African player’s dream is to be named among the best and clinch victory in the long run.

    This dream can only become true if players will sacrifice their best for their country and play as team in the competition.

    More also, the feats of African players in World Cup history in recent times cannot be overemphasized as a result of  their remarkable achievements in the tournament.

    The Nation looking back the history of football, name the top 10 greatest African players in World Cup history.

    However, the selection is based on their individual records and contributions as far as the tournament is concerned.

     

    10. Rabah “Mustapha” Madjer (Algeria)

    Madjer (born 15 December 1958) played for the Algeria national team for 19 years, and was present at the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup finals. He retired as the nation’s top goalscorer at 28, in 87 caps, having also won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1990 as the hosts incidentally beat Nigeria twice, in the opening match 5–1 and the final 1–0.

    9.  Gnégnéri Yaya Touré (Cote d’lvoire)

    Touré (born 13 May 1983) has been a regular member of the Ivory Coast national team since his debut in 2004. In 2014, he was named captain of the team after the retirement of Didier Drogba. In February 2015, he won his 100th international cap in a 0–0 draw with Cameroon. Also, representing the nation at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

    8. Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia) 

    Bwalya (born 16 August 1963) popularly known as the Great Kalu, is a Zambian former international footballer. He is Zambia’s eighth-most capped player and third on the list of all-time top goal scorers behind Godfrey Chitalu and Alex Chola. Bwalya was named African Footballer of the Year in 1988 by the magazine France Football and was nominated for the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year where he was voted the 12th-best player in the world, the first to be nominated after playing the entire year for a non-European club.

    7. Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)

    Kanu (born 1 August 1976) is popularly known by fans as “Papilo”. A member of the Nigerian national team from 1994 to 2010, making his debut in friendly against Sweden. At the start of his career, Kanu was instrumental in Nigeria’s overall success at the 1993 FIFA U-17 tournament in Japan and their subsequent 2–1 victory over Ghana in the final. With five goals, he was second joint-scorer in the tournament with Peter Anosike and Manuel Neira, behind compatriot and Captain Wilson Oruma. On 24 June 2010, Kanu ended his international career following Nigeria’s exit from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Nigeria lost their group matches against Argentina and Greece, before a 2–2 draw with South Korea ended their stay in the tournament.

    6. Abedi Pele (Ghana)

    Pele (born 5 November 1964) is a Ghanaian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and who served as captain of the Ghana national team. He is regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all-time. He was a captain and was one of the first African football players to earn a top placing in FIFA World Player of the Year voting in 1991 and 1992. He is arguably Africa’s most decorated and honoured football player ever.

    Read Also: World Cup: Super Eagles arrive in Russia

    5. Augustine Azuka Okocha (Nigeria)

    Okocha (born 14 August 1973) also known as “Jay-Jay” made his official debut for Nigeria in their 2–1 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifier away loss against Ivory Coast in May 1993.It was not until his second cap and home debut that he became a favourite with the Nigerian supporters. With Nigeria trailing 1–0 against Algeria, in a match they needed to win, he scored from a direct free kick to equalise, before helping the team to a 4–1 win, eventually securing qualification to their first World Cup. In 1994, he was a member of both the victorious 1994 African Cup of Nations squad and the World Cup squad who made it to the second round before they lost in a dramatic match against eventual runners-up Italy. He is best known for his creativity and skillfulness on the field of play

    4. Albert Roger Mooh Miller (Cameroon)

    Milla (born 20 May 1952), commonly known as “Roger Milla” made his first appearance for Cameroon in 1973 versus Zaire in a World Cup qualifier. He was a member of Cameroon’s team at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, having a goal disallowed against Peru in their first match. Cameroon went out with three draws from their three first-round games. He returned to the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the age of 42, being the oldest player ever to appear in a World Cup until the 2014 FIFA World Cup when Faryd Mondragón entered in the Colombia vs. Japan game being 43 years and 3 days old, setting a new record. Cameroon were knocked out in the group stages; however, Milla scored a goal against Russia, setting a record as the oldest goal scorer in a World Cup tournament, breaking the record he had set in 1990.

    3. Didier Yves Drogba (Cote d’lvoire)

    Drogba (born 11 March 1978), an Ivory Coast international between 2002 and 2014, captained the national team from 2006 until his retirement from the Ivory Coast team and became the nation’s all-time top goal scorer with 65 goals from 104 appearances. He led the Ivory Coast to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, their first appearance in the tournament, and also scored their first goal. He contributed to the Ivory Coast to qualify for its first ever FIFA World Cup, held in Germany in 2006.

    2. George Tawlon Weah (Liberia)

    Weah (born 1 October 1966), became the first and only African player to be named FIFA World cup player and Ballon d’Or winner in 1995. As successful as he was at club level, Weah was not able to bring over that success to the Liberia national team. In total, Weah played 60 games for Liberia over 20 years, scoring 22 goals. As one of the smaller nations in world football and perennial underdogs, Weah did everything he could to support the national squad: aside from being the team’s star player, he also later coached the squad and even funded his national side to a large extent. Despite his efforts, he was unsuccessful in helping Liberia qualify for a single FIFA World Cup, falling just a point short in qualifying for the 2002 tournament.

    1. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

    Eto’o (born 10 March 1981), became the first man to be named African Player of the Year for four consecutive times. He made his first World Cup in 1998, being the youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup until the 2008 FIFA World Cup when Victor Manon, being 16 years 15 days, setting a new record. He scored his sole goal of the 2002 FIFA World Cup when he netted the game-winner against Saudi Arabia during the group stage on 6 June 2002, which was Cameroon’s only win of the competition.

  • 2026 World Cup Bid: Morocco Loses to U.S, Canada & Mexico

    FIFA said on Wednesday that U.S, Canada and Mexico will host 2026 World Cup.

    Morocco lost out in the challenge at the FIFA Congress, Sportinglife.ng can report.

    The joint bid won 134 votes (67 percent) out of the 203 entitled to vote with Morocco bagging 65 (33 percent) when voting took place in Moscow early on Wednesday.

    This would be the fifth time Morocco will be bidding to host the World Cup, describing it as “the dream of a nation,” Us soccer president had said 

    Meanwhile, the US hosted the World Cup previously in 1994 while Mexico hosted it in 1970 and 1986. Canada has never hosted a men’s World Cup but held the women’s tournament in 2015.

    Earlier, US Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro has said his bid would generate $14bn in revenue and make an $11bn profit for FIFA. The bid also expects record ticket and hospitality revenue.

    Although it would be the first tournament to be hosted by three nations, the vast majority of games will be held in the US.

    According to the Executive Director of the United Bid Committee, John Kristick, “We can focus on the game. We are ready made. Our cities are ready to host today.”

    The 2026 World Cup will head to North America for the fourth time and will be the first with 48 teams taking part.

  • Breaking! Spain Fires Coach on Eve of World Cup

    Spain has sacked coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup.

    The news broke mid-day of Wednesday.

    The country’s soccer federation fired Lopetegui for agreeing to join Real Madrid after the Russia mundial.

    The federation claimed they learned of Lopetegui’s appointment five minutes before it was announced on Tuesday.

    Former team captain Fernando Hierro, already in Russia as Sporting Director, has been directed to take over as coach for the tournament, the federation said on its website.

    “You cannot do these things two to three days before a World Cup. We had to take this decision,” Spanish Football President, Luis Rubiales said in the statement posted online.

    Lopetegui agreed to join the Champions League winners this week following the resignation of Zinedine Zidane in May.

    Spain, the 2010 winners, are third favorites to win this year’s competition, according to bookmaker SkyBet. Their first game is against Euro 2016 winners Portugal on Friday and they will also play Morocco and Iran during the group stage.

    The national team is seeking to rebuild after a disappointing defense of the trophy in 2014, combining a new generation of players with the last of its world champions.

    “Maybe I get a call up now!” joked Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who created the winning goal in 2010 but wasn’t included in this year’s squad.

  • Africa’s big five target podium finish in Russia

    The 2018 FIFA World Cup begins Thursday in Russia and 32 nations will be vying for the planet’s biggest soccer prize.

    Africa will be represented by five countries – Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia.

    The teams have been put in fairly competitive groups and will be aiming to go one step further than the quarter final finish recorded by Cameroun (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) when the tournament kick off with the opening match between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia at the magnificent Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

    HAMED SHOBIYE, Deputy Editor, Online, x-ray the chances of Africa’s five representatives in Russia.

    EGYPT:

    The seven-time African champions will be featuring in the premium soccer tournament for the first time since 1990. The Pharaohs unexpectedly saw off the challenge of group E favourites Ghana’s Black Stars to secure the ticket for Russia.

    The Argentinian- born Hector Cuper has put together a cohesive unit that will ruffle few feathers in a simple looking group A comprising the hosts, two-time world champions Uruguay and Asian heavyweights Saudi Arabia.

    Regarded as poor travelers, the Egyptians are expected to break their age-long hoodoo of not going beyond the group stage in major soccer tournaments by picking one of the group’s second round tickets alongside Uruguay.

    In their previous two appearances in FIFA World Cup, the North African powerhouse record of two draws and two defeats in 1934 and 1990 in Italy make them one of the poorest sides in the history of the tournament.

    Coach: Hector Cuper

    The blonde Argentine was in charge of the great Valencia side that dazzled the world with its refreshing brand of football at the beginning of the millennium.

    He led the side that included Gazka Mendieta, Claudio Lopez, Ariel Ortega and Joeslyn Angloma to successive UEFA Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001 against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

    Before that, he led the unheralded Spanish side, Mallorca to a second place finish in the now rested European Winners’ Cup in 1999.

    Cuper’s stint with Inter Milan was not very successful, but his recent exploits with Egypt has cemented his place as one of world’s elite coaches.

    Key PLAYER: Mohamed Salah

    The reigning African Player of the Year is the man carrying the hopes of millions of Egyptians in this year’s tournament.

    The Liverpool star scored 46 goals across all competitions last season and his form will determine how far the Pharaoh will go in this year’s World Cup.

    The Egypt’s talisman is one of few players expected to light up the tournament in Russia.

     

    MOROCCO:

    Morocco was the first African team to progress beyond the group stage in FIFA World Cup.

    The Jose Faria’s tutored side that included stalwarts like Aziz Bourdebala, Mohammed Timoumi, El-Zaki Badou, Abdulrazaq Khairi and Merry Krimau stunned the global soccer audience by finishing top of group E ahead of England, Poland and Portugal at the 1986 tournament held in Mexico.

    The team lost to eventual runners up West Germany by 0-1 in the second round.

    The Moroccans are playing in their first World Cup since 1998.

    In France, the Atlas Lions refreshing brand of football captivated the watching world and came agonizingly close to sealing a second round ticket behind the defending champions Brazil in group F.

    The current generation led by Juventus defender, Mehdi Benatia, picked the group C ticket ahead of West African giants Ivory Coast on the last day of African zone qualifiers. The Moroccans stunned the star –studded Ivoirians at their Abidjan cauldron with 2-0 victory and sealed a fifth appearance in FIFA’s premier soccer tournament.

     

    The Coach: Herve Renard

    The shrewd Frenchman has carved a niche for himself as a top class coach with two AFCON victories under his belt.

    Henard, who worked with Claude Le Roy during the latter’s stint with Ghana, has transformed the Atlas Lions into one of the most formidable teams on the continent.

    The team scored eight goals and conceded none in the last round of African zone qualifiers. The fine blend of youth and experience in midfield and attack make the Atlas Lions a dangerous dark house in Russia.

    However, no one is giving the North African giants any chance of surviving a dangerous looking group B comprising two European heavyweights in the shape Portugal and Spain.

    But finishing ahead of Iran in third place will be a huge success for the former African champions in Russia.

     

    Key Player: Mehdi Benatia:

    The towering Juventus defender is a pillar of sort for the Atlas Lions. His defensive qualities and inspirational leadership will be very important in Russia where the Moroccans will come up against one of the greatest strikers on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo.

    NIGERIA:

    When the draws for the African zone final round qualifiers took place in June 2016, no one expected the Super Eagles to pick the group B sole ticket ahead of Cameroun, Algeria and dangerous dark horse Zambia.

    Nigeria surprised pundits by qualifying for its sixth World Cup with a match to spare in November.

    The team started the group stage with a 2–1 win over Zambia in Ndola and defeated Algeria 3–1 in the second match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

    Super Eagles defeated Cameroon 5–1 home and away in a back- to- back contest and became the first African team to qualify for the World Cup after defeating Zambia 1–0 in Uyo.

    The present team has drawn comparison with the great team of 1994 that included Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, late Rashidi Yekini, late Thompson Oliha, late Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachie and Emmanuel Amuneke, with its refreshing brand of football.

    The inspirational skipper Mikel Obi, Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi, Chelsea wingback Victor Moses and Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho are expected to pull the strings for Super Eagles in Russia.

    Paired in a tough-looking group D alongside two-time world champions Argentina, 1998 bronze medalists Croatia and debutants Iceland, Nigeria is expected to slug it out with Croatia for the group’s second ticket for round of 16 behind the South American powerhouse.

     

    Coach:  Gernot Rohr

    The Franco-German coach has surprised many with his organisation and technical ability since his appointment in 2016.

    The ex-Bayern Munich defender has instilled discipline and organisation into a side that flattered to deceive in previous tournaments.

     

    Key player: Mikel Obi

    Regarded by many as the glue that holds the team together, the ex-Chelsea anchorman’s leadership qualities and tactical discipline are one of the key factors behind the Super Eagles recent success.

    Russia 2018 may be Mikel’s last World Cup as he will be too old in 2022 when Qatar hosts the rest of the world.

     

    SENEGAL:

    The 2002 World Cup quarter finalists expectedly secured the group D’s sole ticket ahead of South Africa, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.

    The team has a fine collection of talented players plying their trade in top leagues in Europe and success in Russia will depend on how Coach Aliou Cisse harnesses the resources at his disposal.

     

    Coach: Aliou Cisse:

    The captain of the Senegalese squad to the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan has successfully moulded the current team in his own image. Determined, skillful and athletic, the current generation of Teranga Lions has been tipped to progress beyond the group stage alongside Colombia in a very open group H where all the teams have equal chances of picking the second round tickets.

    Key player: Sadio Mane

    The power playing Liverpool striker carries the hopes and expectations of soccer mad West African nation hoping for repeat of the 2002 exploits in Far East.

    Sane alongside veteran Moussa Sow are expected to provide the goals that will lift the 2002 AFCON runners up to glory in Russia.

    However, anything short of second round ticket will be unacceptable to their compatriots back home in Dakar and other major cities in the country.

     

    TUNISIA:

    The Tunisians are regarded as the weakest of the five African representatives in Russia.

    The Carthage Eagles was the first African team to win a World Cup match after defeating Mexico 3-1 in the 1978 tournament held in Argentina.

    But since that famous night in Buenos Aires, Tunisia had played a total of 990 minutes at the World Cup without victory.

    Russia 2018 will be the North African giant’s fifth appearance in FIFA World Cup and has never progressed beyond the group stage in four previous participations at the quadrennial tournament.

    During the qualifiers, the former African champions made hard work of a very easy group that included DR Congo, Guinea and Libya and only secured qualification after a nail-biting scoreless draw at home against already eliminated Libya on the last day of the African zone preliminaries.

    Paired with England, Belgium and debutants Panama in group G, the Tunisians are expected to exit the tournament in the first round.

    However, a third place finish ahead of the inexperienced Panama will be a huge morale booster for the perennial Africa underachievers.

     

    Coach: Nabil Maaloul

    The former Tunisian international cemented his reputation as top coach in his homeland after steering the team to fifth World Cup qualification ahead of the much-fancied DR Congo.

    But the Carthage Eagles’ performance in Russia where Maaloul will pit his wits against England’s Gareth Southgate, Belgium’s Roberto Martinez and Panama’s Hernan Dario Gomez will determine how far he has progressed as tactician.

     

    Key player: Wabhi Khaziri

    Khaziri, the on loan Rennes hitman, is the makeshift striker with Tunisia’s hopes on his shoulders.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • World Cup: Super Eagles arrive in Russia

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria have touched down in Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    According to reports on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official Twitter handle, the players and their officials landed in their Essentuki base in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The Super Eagles flew out of their Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria, to Russia on Monday for the 21st FIFA World Cup finals – Nigeria’s sixth appearance in seven finals since making a memorable debut in the U.S. in 1994.

    A picture of the players alighting from aircraft in a unique traditional outfit was also posted on the NFF Twitter page with a short tweet which read: “@FIFA World Cup. Welcome, NGA!”

    Read Also: Nigeria should excel in Russia, says ANN

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Gernot Rohr’s men are expected to have their first training session following their arrival on Tuesday.

    They are the last team in Group D to arrive in Russia for the tournament, with Argentina and Iceland jetting in on Saturday.
    Croatia arrived in Russia on Monday.

    Nigeria will take on Croatia on Saturday in their opening Group D fixture at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
    The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 14 to July 15.

    NAN