World Cup: Super Eagles Must Beat Iceland, Agali Warns

FRANCIS ACHI/ Kaliningrad, Russia

Having suffered a 2-0 loss to Croatia in the opening game of Group D at the 2018 Russia World Cup, Super Eagles must be attacking conscious against Iceland in their second group game.

This was the firm opinion of Victor Agali, former Nigerian International. Agali, who spoke with PM EXPRESS exclusively in Kaliningrad is one of the scouts of Gernot Rohr, the technical adviser of the Super Eagles, said that Super Eagles’ game against Iceland is a must win affair, adding that the team must attack from the blast of the whistle and also be disciplined at the defence in order not to concede against their opponents.

“The game against Iceland is a must-win game . It is was difficult and painful to lose your first game in a tournament like the World Cup, but I believe that the players must have recovered from the lose to Croatia and be ready to show strong fighting spirit and determination to defeat Iceland. I believe that Iceland is beatable, ” Agali said.

The former Hansa Rostock of Germany striker further said that irrespective of the formation Gernot Rohr may deploy in the game, the atacking midfielders in the Super Eagles must be very mobile by getting inside the vital area of the opponent for opportunities to score, as he stressed that Odion Ighalo or whoever that might lead the attack of the Eagles should be assisted by the attacking midfielders , insisting further that Nigeria must score goals to diminish the team from Iceland.

“I am not the coach of the team, but I know that the attacking midfielders must be effective by joining Odion Ighalo in the box of the opponent. The striker should not be the only players inside the opponent’s dangerous area, the attacking midfielders should be very mobile to torment the defence of Iceland to submission. It is a must-win and it must not must be the top striker that must score the goals.

“Once a midfielder is a position to shoot inside the box , there is likelihood the ball will find itself inside the net, but if the midfielder is far from the vital area , expecting only the striker to score , then it will be difficult. I hope it will be a good result in favour of the Super Eagles on Friday,” he said.

Nigeria has never played Iceland in a competitive game.