Nigeria Expecting Great Odds At The 2014 World Cup in Brazil

            After their recent success at the African Cup of Nations, coasting undefeated through the African qualifying rounds, and then demolishing Ethiopia over two legs in the play-off, Nigeria will go in to World Cup finals in Brazil this summer in confident mood.

          The team’s buoyancy is shared by an expectant nation who, as always, will be preparing a rousing reception for the Super Eagles’ opening fixture against Iran at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba on Monday 16 June 8 pm BST.
     
           Group F looks like it is one of the proverbial groups of death. As well as the Iranians, the group contains one of the tournament’s dark horses – the flamboyant Bosnia-Herzegovinan’s containing Manchester City sensation Edin Dzeko and AS Roma’s Miralem Pjanic. Meanwhile Nigeria’s final Group F encounter against the star-studded Argentinians at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre on Wednesday 25 June is the one of the most eagerly anticipated games in the competition. Argentina is the second most fancied team to win the entire tournament and hot favourites to win the group. William Hill quotes Nigeria at 11/2 to top the group. You can click to the William Hill web site to see further great odds for the Super Eagles.
      
           The Super Eagles’ will not be overawed by the big occasion. The talented squad is blessed by a blend of experience and youth. With over 300 Premier League games under his belt, Chelsea’s lynchpin midfielder John Obi Mikel is reaching his peak. The 27 year old’s experience will be crucial in holding the Nigerian midfield together and linking play between defence to attack. Augmenting Mikel’s guile and perception is the precocious talent of the fledgling Super Eaglet Victor Moses. The 23 year old goes to Brazil on the back of a rollercoaster season on loan to Liverpool. He was within a whisker of earning a Premier League winner’s medal until the Anfield outfit slipped up at the death.
         
             Nigeria’s progress has been steady, if not spectacular, under the influential leadership of their dynamic coach Stephen Keshi. The 51-year-old former Super Eagle international can boast winning the African Cup of Nations as both player and manager. At face value Keshi’s football philosophy is simple; an elusive counter attacking style that puts the onus on pure possession football.