PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: John Obi Mikel - What does Nigeria skipper think of their 2018 draw?

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Dec 04, 2017. 10:00

Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel would probably have had mixed feelings last Friday when watching the 2018 World Cup draw.

The Super Eagles have been placed in Group D alongside debutants Iceland, ‘the Brazil of the Balkans’ Croatia, and two-time World Cup champions Argentina.

It’s a decent draw for the West Africans, who will feel confident they can beat both Croatia and Iceland before facing off against an Argentina team they defeated 4-2 in a friendly in Russia last month.

Yet that friendly result by no means hands the Super Eagles ‘favourites’ for the showdown with the powerful South Americans in Saint Petersburg on June 26.

Mikel himself played in last month’s match against Argentina and is no stranger to taking on the ‘Albiceleste’ on the big stage, having been part of Nigeria’s line-up in the 3-2 loss in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup.

The 30-year-old will hope to lead the Super Eagles to a strong result against Argentina and hope that it underpins a World Cup campaign which stretches deep into the tournament.