World Cup: Eagles Can Cause Great Upsets In Russia – Taribo West

FRANCIS ACHI/Abuja

Former Nigeria international,  Taribo West has said that the Super Eagles, despite not having world acclaimed super stars in the team can cause great upsets at the Russia 2018 World Cup.

Speaking to PM EXPRESS in Abuja on Tuesday, the former Inter Milan of Italy defender said that the present Super Eagles,  if given adequate preparation ahead of the World Cup,  can go all the way to create a new chapter in the history of football in Nigeria and Africa, as he reckoned that not having big names in the team may be a factor that will work in favour of the team in the greatest football showpiece .

“One thing about this Super Eagles team is the fact the team don’t have big names featuring for top clubs in Europe. Ironically their opponents can take them for granted and in the process , the team can cause great upsets at the World Cup.  I think this is the edge the current Eagles have over the Super Eagles of my set, ” West said.

He added that “My set had a good number of very experienced players , very exceptional players in African then that can transform the  game in favour of Nigeria, but with this present team, you don’t know who is who. Any player can come out from no where and make the difference”.

According to the no – nonsense former defender of the Super Eagles , who was a nightmare to a lot of attackers  during his career, he believes that the Super Eagles are the under dogs playing Croatia, Iceland and Argentina at the group stage of the football mundial, but the team are very unique and filled with young players that can withstand the rigours of modern day football .

” This particular Super Eagles team are very unique. I am very optimistic that the team will make Nigeria and Africa proud in Russia. The team play on their strength of their collectivity as a team and the Eagles are made of young players that are physically energetic and these young players can run round the entire field tirelessly.

“There is no doubt that the Super Eagles are the underdogs at the World Cup. We don’t have big names in our team. The only player we can consider as a big name is Victor Moses and probably a little bit of Alex Iwobi. These are the only two big names you can reckon with , but the Super Eagles have an edge and advantage.

” It is simply because after our era , this is the team that are bringing back the culture of unity, they have strength of unity as they play together and I believe that with much more preparation, the team will do well at the World Cup. I see Nigeria in the last four , which is the semi -final of the World Cup, ” he said.