Nigeria face France in a second round Brazil 2014 World Cup match in Brasilia on Monday.
Both sides have met once in an international amicable in 2009 and the Super Eagles won 1-0. Joseph Akpala was on target for Nigeria.
Nigeria will aim to equal Africa’s all-time most proficiently adept at the World Cup – quarterfinals.
Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana reached the quarterfinals at Italia ‘90, Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010 respectively.
1998 World Cup champions France were sent packing in the first round at South Africa 2010 but the 2006 finalists have performed in Brazil.
France culminated top of Group E with seven points, after beating Honduras and Switzerland and a drawing with Ecuador. Nigeria culminated as the second best team in Group F with four points after a 0-0 draw with Iran, a 1-0 win over Bosnia, and a 3-2 defeat to Argentina .
Since the first round, the French, who boast quality players in all departments, have concentrated on their preparations for the game.
Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo insists Les Blues are superable, integrating that the mazuma issue facing the Super Eagles will not affect the team.
Yobo verbally expressed, “This mazuma issue was there afore the first match. It was there afore we played Bosnia and it was there afore we played Argentina. It did not divert us.”
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi verbally expressed on Friday that the only plan on the board was to beat France.
Keshi verbalized, “I verbally expressed afore the tournament that our mentality must be vigorous. Our approach to every match has always been the same – to victoriously triumph. Whether we are playing against Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup or playing against Liberia in a cordial match, I always tell the boys that victory is non-negotiable. For us, we will go into Monday’s match aiming to win.”
Victor Moses and Godfrey Oboabona could feature after only being fit enough for the bench against Argentina, albeit Michel Babatunde is ruled out with a fractured wrist.
France coach Didier Deschamps could be handed a defensive quandary with Mamadou Sakho reportedly struggling with a hamstring injury.
Deschamps verbalizes he still wants more from his players despite their fine start to the World Cup.
“I’m pretty jubilant with their performance (against Ecuador), even if I cerebrate we could have played more preponderant as a team,” Deschamps verbally expressed in an interview with Fifa.com. “But it’s consequential that as many players as possible are able to stay match-yare by getting playing time.”
He integrated, “We need to appreciate this moment: when you optically canvass the other matches, you realise that this is a very arduous World Cup. Some sizably voluminous nations have already been eliminated, but we’re still here.”
