It is difficult to define the chances of the Super Eagles of Nigeria as the 2014 FIFA World Cup continues in Brazil.
The reigning African champions have the potential to cause plenty of problems for their opponents, but can also easily be brushed aside as was seen four years ago in South Africa.
Nigeria recorded one solitary point in 2010, losing to Argentina and Greece, while drawing with South Korea in its final group match.
This time around, it comes into the tournament on the back of the 2013 African Cup of Nations success which is sure to provide some sort of confidence.
But recent friendly results of the team have thrown up a trio of draws with Mexico, Scotland and Greece, with a 2-1 loss in the hands of the United States in the last match, making it a tough task to analyse just how Stephen Keshi’s side will perform.
There is plenty to like about the squad on paper, but that does not necessarily mean it will be able to recreate the outcome of the 1994 and 1998 squads who finished top of their groups before losing out in the Round of 16.
And by 8pm tomorrow in Curitiba, Iran will host Nigeria in the second Group F match. Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina opened the group’s chapter yesterday.
This is a group that the Super Eagles players could successfully navigate when at their best. But if they fail to make the most of the opening fixture against Iran, their chances of progressing to the knockout phase will decrease massively.
Iran and Nigeria have met once in the past at the senior level when the African champions ran away with a lone goal victory. It was a friendly tie played in Hong Kong in 1998.
Since then, a lot of things have changed in the two teams.
At the last FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last October, the Golden Eaglets was too hot for Iran at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, racking up three goals in the first half en route to a 4-1 win in the Round of 16. The Nigerian lads eventually won the title.
Super Eagles chief coach, Keshi, has instilled in his side a belief that they can beat anybody they come up against.
Whether the Nigerian players actually believe is another issue, but at least the coach has plenty of faith in his players.
The team’s last three friendly ties against Scotland (2-2), Mexico (0-0) and US (1-2) should be able to bind the players together, but can they take the extra step especially against Iran?
The usually attack-minded John Mikel Obi will be supported by the likes of Victor Moses and Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi. The midfield will be where most of Nigeria’s influence comes from as they look to feed Emmanuel Emenike, who had a decent season in Turkey, scoring 12 goals for Fenerbahce FC.
Other than Emenike though, it is hard to see exactly where the goals will come from, as Osaze Odemwingie has not scored an international goal since August 2010, Ahmed Musa does not have the best of strike rates, Shola Ameobi is noted more for his hard work rather than finesse, while Uche Nwofor and Michael Uchebo are largely untested at this level.
The players and technical crew should forget missing Elderson Echiejile, who was injured in the match against Mexico and has since been replaced by Ejike Uzoenyi.
But if the record book is anything to go by, Team Melli (as the Iranian national team is called) should not fear Nigeria or any opposition in Group F, while the biggest obstacle will be the psychological hurdle.
And following the team’s 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in its final preparation match, Coach Carlos Queiroz and his players are expected to give the Nigerians a tough match and not fall easily.
With Ehasan Hajsafy and Reza Ghoochannejad, scorers of the two goals against Trinidad and Toabago, and skipper Javad Nekounam in their best form, the Super Eagles is in for a real battle.
The Super Eagles must be careful of the two strikers, especially Goochannejad who fired the team to a fourth World Cup.
This is Iran’s fourth World Cup finals and they are yet to compete in the knock-out stages. They will hope the attacking threat of Fulham midfielder, Ashkan Dejagah, and veteran Nekounam gets them out of the groups this time.
A predominantly domestic-based squad will do well to improve on Iran’s World Cup record of one win in nine attempts.
The team only conceded twice in eight matches during the final qualifying phase, but stronger opponents lie ahead.
Queiroz is also dreaming high, though he confessed that they are in Brazil to learn, not to add to the numbers.
He said: “(We must) take this World Cup as a learning process, and that doesn’t mean that we go there for tourism. We go to Brazil to create a legacy, and the legacy is to put the team in a good position to be stronger after the World Cup, better prepared and more experienced.
“No doubt since I arrived, there is great progress in the players, great progress in the team. There is a great potential in Iran, it is just a matter of putting things in the right place.
“Three years ago, Iran was fourth or fifth in Asia and today, it is the number one country.”
Known for its cagey, counter-attacking approach to the game, the Iranian team won’t be generous with the Super Eagles. There may not even be the traditional exchange of shirts after the match. President of Iran’s Football Federation (FFI), Ali Kafaschian, has said “we are not giving the players a shirt for every game. The players have to be economical with the shirts.”
They will also be economical with sympathy, starting with Keshi and his boys in Curitiba tomorrow?
