We were No 5 in 1994...Mikel wants victory over France to make a statement that Nigeria has arrived at the soccer map of the world.
Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel is hopeful that victory over France and a first World Cup quarter-final appearance can help unite the African nation currently gripped by violence and bloodshed.
Mikel, 27, said the troubles had made an impression on the squad but he pressed the need for his team mates to focus on Monday’s last 16 match against France and do their bit to bring people together. “I think football is what unites everyone back home in Nigeria, everyone loves football, and as long as we keep doing well and as long as we keep winning, I think this football alone can bring unity back to these various places where we are having problems.”
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi also pressed the need to bring cheer to the strife hit fans of the Super Eagles, who are the first African country to get past the World Cup group phase on three separate occasions. Peppered with questions about a bonus pay dispute involving the squad and the Nigerian Football Association, Keshi, known as “Big Boss”, was clearly bemused by the interest in a problem he explained was over and said his team were “good to go”.
Keshi has insisted that Nigeria will go all out against France, in other to get a result well deserved outright win over their French counterparts in Brasilia on Monday. The former togo coach, stated this on the arrival of the team in Brasilia on Saturday.
“I said before the tournament that our mentality must be strong. “Our approach to every match has always been the same: to win. Whether we are playing against Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup or playing against Liberia in a friendly match, I always tell the boys that victory is non-negotiable. “For us, we will go into Monday’s match aiming to win. But as I also said before the competition, we take it one match at a time. We don’t even want to think of who might be lurking in the quarter finals if we win. “We are not bothered. All we know is that we must win on Monday.”
The winner in Monday’s clash that starts at 5pm Nigeria time (1pm Rio de Janeiro) will face either of Germany or Algeria at the elegant Estadio Maracana, venue for the final on July 12. France is the favorite for the match, but things have not just been what they look like in this World Cup, so you don’t count any team out.
There is only one recorded clash between Nigeria and France at the senior level. That was an international friendly in Paris, France on June 2, 2009, which the Super Eagles won by a lone goal. The goal was scored by Joseph Akpala.
MATCH FACTS
Date: Monday, June 30
Kick-off: 16h00 (GMT)
Venue: Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília
Referee: Mark Geiger (United States)
NIGERIA HEAD-TO-HEAD VS FRANCE
P W D L GF GA
1 1 0 0 1 0
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