NFF vice president says he is confident Super Eagles will perform wonders at the World Cup

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) first vice president Seyi Akinwunmi has mounted further pressure on the Super Eagles ahead of the impending World Cup stating that the nation expects wonders from the team at the tournament.

Seen by many as one of the dark horses going into the tournament, the Super Eagles became one of the favourites after beating Argentina 4-2 in a friendly match last November. Playing in Group D alongside Argentina, Croatia and Iceland, Nigeria is expected to be one of the two teams to make it through to the second round.

Super Eagles fans are expecting the team to surpass its previous exploits in the World Cup by at least getting to the quarter finals of Russia 2018. Nigeria has thrice reached the knockout rounds of the World Cup and even government officials are of the view that a quarter final berth should be the minimum requirement this time around.

In a recent radio interview, Mr Akinwunmi said: “They are young, talented and disciplined and with some luck, they will do wonders in Russia and surprise sceptical Nigerians. There will be 200m Nigerian rooting for them to victory, so as a true Nigerian, there is no fear.”

He added, however, that the NFF has not set any specific target for the team at the World Cup. After Nigeria's last friendly which the Eagles lost 0-2 top Serbia, head coach Gernot Rohr said he was relieved because if the team had won, he would be under increased pressure to actually win the World Cup.