Eagles set to fly past Iran

Both countries are not new to the mundial as each boasts of appreciable appearances at the World Cup. While Nigeria is making her fifth appearance at the World Cup, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014, their opponents Iran are making their fourth appearance, having been there in 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014.Monday’s clash makes it […]

Both countries are not new to the mundial as each boasts of appreciable appearances at the World Cup. While Nigeria is making her fifth appearance at the World Cup, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014, their opponents Iran are making their fourth appearance, having been there in 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014.
Monday’s clash makes it the second time both countries will be meeting at senior level. The first match between the two teams was well back in 1998 and the Super Eagles triumphed 1-0 over the Melli as the Iranian national team is called.
So apart from aiming for the maximum points that will kick-start their 2014 World Cup campaign on a promising note, Iran will be out to exert revenge against Nigeria.
Going by the latest FIFA ranking, Nigeria is the least ranked of the countries that make up Group F. While group favourites Argentina are ranked 5, Bosnia-Herzegovina is 22, Iran 43 and Nigeria 44. If FIFA ranking is anything to go by, the Super Eagles have a mountain to climb against Iran.
However, going by records of achievements in past appearances in the World Cup, Nigeria is the more successful of the two. The Super Eagles who made their World Cup debut in 1994 in the US boast of four wins and two draws. The victories came against Bulgeria and Greece in 1994, Spain and Bulgeria in 1998. The draws were recorded against England in 2002 and South Korea in 2010 in South Africa.
Out of four appearances, the Super Eagles have reached the round of 16 on two occasions. That was in 1994 in the USA and 1998 in France.
On the other hand, in three previous appearances, Iran can only boast of the historic 2-1 victory over USA at France 1998 and the two draws, that is the 1-1 draw against Scotland in 1978 and the 1-1 draw against Angola in 2006.
In terms of success at the World Cup, Nigeria is far ahead of Iran but since there are no minnows in world football, Iran cannot be undermined. Coached by a versatile Portugese manager, Carlos Queiroz, Iran brings to the party some quality players who have got the needed exposure and confidence to compete at the top level.
The Iranians are good defensively as most times, they keep as many as 10 men behind the ball in attempt to absorb all pressure while waiting to catch their opponents on the counter. Anytime such a defensive tactics is adopted, it makes it really difficult for opposing attackers to penetrate their defence.
Iran will most certainly depend on vastly experienced players like Jalal Hosseini, Javad Nekounam, Ashkan Dejagah and Reza Ghoochannejah. Iran’s star player no doubt is 33 year old defensive midfielder, Javad Nekounam who has played 140 times for his country. The player who spent six seasons in the La Liga with Osasuna where he made 149 appearances scoring 24 goals has mastered the art of ball possession. He captained Iran through the 2014 World Cup qualifying matches and contributed four goals.
However, against the Super Eagles on Monday, Iran will be counting on Ashkan Dejagah for victory. For Premier League fans, Dejagah who played in the colours of relegated Fulham is not new to goal scoring. A pacy winger with deadly bullets in both feet, Dejagah will occupy the right wing where his team mates would look to release him on the counter-attack.
Following the relegation of Fulham to the Championship, the winger will also like to use the World Cup to attract the attention of bigger clubs in Europe. This makes him a potential threat for opponents.
Super Eagles will also go into the match with nothing less than victory on their minds as they try to atone for the disastrous outing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Since their 1-0 victory over Bulgeria at France 98, the Super Eagles have not won a World Cup match. The match against Iran therefore provides the Eagles with the opportunity to return to winning ways.
Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Ben Duamlong believes the Eagles are experienced enough to handle the Iranians and other opponents.
“When you look at this team, the players are now better than when they won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. They have more experience, there is cohesion and they have been playing together for some time now.
“I am therefore expecting superlative performance from them beginning with the game against Iran on Monday,” he said.
Interestingly, coach Keshi and his players have not stopped exuding the necessary confidence. The coach said his players will rise up to the occasion in Brazil.
Such expression of confidence has not convinced critics of the team who still believe the performance of the Eagles in the three pre-World Cup friendly matches did not inspire much hope.
Former NFF presidential aspirant Lumumba Adeh said going by the performance of the Eagles against the USA national tea, Nigerians should not expect anything tangible from the team.
He said at the World Cup level, the place of luck is so limited that nobody should hinge the team’s success on it.
“Having watched the Eagles match against the USA, I can say Eagles may not go far in the World Cup. Their performance in the friendly against the USA was not convincing.
“The target of finals set for the team by the minister of sports is also unrealistic. We should be praying that the team qualifies from the group to the second round.
“If Nigerians expect so much from the Eagles, they may be disappointed at the end of the day,” he said
Lumumba’s position represents the feeling of Nigerians who are not yet convinced that the Eagles will soar high in Brazil. However, their first group F match against Iran on Monday is a golden opportunity for the team to prove its critics wrong.
If they are to win over their critics, key players like John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa and Onazi Ogenyi must step up their game.
Already ex-international Duamlong has said bully striker Emenike has the ability to make himself the goal machine in Brazil. Therefore, the Super Eagles would be banking on him to re-enact the performance that made him a nightmare for defenders at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.