Some Nigerians on Friday were thrown into panic after it emerged that the Super Eagles were handed a tough draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The three-time African champions must come out tops against Africa’s top ranked team, Algeria, neighbours Cameroon and 2012 champions, Zambia in Group B.
“This is the group of death and it’s a very difficult group,” Cameroon coach, Hugo Broos, admitted after the draw.
While many believe it is an impossible task to make it out of the group, few are confident that the Eagles would definitely sour to Russia.
With Nigeria beginning their campaign away to Zambia on October 3, we examine five reasons why there is nothing to fear about the so called group of death.
- Exciting young prospects
Nigeria posses one of the most promising and exciting crop of young players in the world at the moment. The West Africans have dominated at junior levels – winning the FIFA U-17 World for a record five times and equally impressive at the U20’s. Players like Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and Belgium based Moses Simon and Wilfred Ndidi would be crucial for the team.
- Superior head-to-head record over opponents
There’s been so much fuss about Nigeria’s group – but historical antecedents actually favours them over their rivals. This is because the Eagles were victors on eight out of 13 encounters against the Desert Foxes – including winning all six of their last six meetings. They also boost an impressive 10 victories in 20 encounters against Cameroon – while Zambia have only beaten the West Africans once in 25 years.
- Zambia’s appalling World Cup record
Another reason Nigerians should go to sleep over the so called group of death is because – opponent, Zambia, has never been to the World Cup finals. George Lwandamina side, just like the Super Eagles, even missed out on the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. The Chipolopolo, who lost the1994 Nations Cup to Nigeria, have failed to make it to the global showpiece in more than half century of years.
- No AFCON distractions
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for a second successive AFCON – but this debacle could most likely become a miracle. Bar Zambia, opponents, Cameroon and Algeria will focus their attention on the forthcoming tournament in Gabon giving the Eagles much more room to strategise on how to neutralise their opponents.
- Algeria’s managerial crisis
Algeria might be Africa’s top ranked team and 32nd in the world, but they are not without their own internal crisis. Frenchman, Christian Gourcuff, stepped down from his role as coach in March when the North Africans were top of their AFCON group with three wins and a draw. His exit left a huge vacuum and the country is yet to appoint a substantive manager ever since with Nabil Neghiz installed in an interim capacity.
