Monday 23 December 2013

Moses Kpakor: Nigeria shouldn't fear Argentina attack

 Moses Kpakor Algiers ’90 Africa Cup of Nations silver medalist has urged the Super Eagles to show no fear when they take on Argentina in their group game at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria are drawn along with the South American country, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group F of Brazil 2014 World Cup.

The Argentineans have met Nigerian team thrice at the World Cup (1994, 2002 and 2010) and ran out winners on each occasion.  Despite La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue) boasting world-class attackers   in Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angelo Di Maria  and  Gonzalo HiguaĆ­n,  Kpakor insists  the 1978 and 1986 World Cup champions are beatable.

“We have a favourable (World Cup) draw and I’m very confident our team will go through to the next round of the tournament,” the former Eagles midfielder told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.

“We shouldn’t fear their (Argentina) stars because I think that they are now a team on paper and cannot intimidate the Eagles.

“We’ve met them twice since the 2010 World Cup and we beat them 4-1 in Abuja  and lost (3-1)  in the return leg.

“The South Americans have not tasted success for a long time and would like to achieve that starting with teams in our group,  but they cannot just intimidate us now. We have a team that has tasted much success and so eager for more.

“So it would be a game of death for both of us, either to come top of the group or to pick up the second ticket to progress into the second round. But I know it’s not going to be easy for both  teams   (Argentina and Nigeria).

The former BCC Lions star, who praised Stephen Keshi for winning the Africa Cup of Nations with relatively unknown players, backed the Eagles to go far at Brazil 2014.

He urged the team to aim at winning the trophy, saying they have the quality to do it.

Kpakor said, “We should take our chances match by  match and stage by  stage. And if we have   the  opportunity to win the World Cup, why not? We shouldn’t hesitate to give it a big shot.

“With what  Keshi  has achieved with team in just two years,  I am convinced we will go  far at  the tournament.”

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