Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn in Group D of the FIFA 2018 world cup alongside perennial opponents Argentina, at the Final draws held in Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace on Friday.
Iceland and Croatia make up the other teams in the group.
The Super Eagles had been at five previous FIFA world cup finals in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 and have made it through to the 2nd round knock-out stage on three occasions, only exiting in the group stages at the Japan/Korea 2002 and South Africa 2010.
The Super Eagles however, have never made it to the quarter-finals of the FIFA world cup.
Nigeria has drawn Argentina in four of its world cup appearances, doing battle with the Albicelestes in 1994, 2002, 2010 and 2014. The Eagles lost out to their South American counterparts in all encounters.
Host Russia are drawn in Group A with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay, while defending champions Germany will do battle in Group F against Mexico, Sweden and the Korea Republic.
Ahead of its sixth world cup appearance since the debut in 1994, there’s high optimism that the Rohr-managed Eagles can do better than previous outings amidst great team dynamics and rancour-free qualifying.
The Super Eagles qualified for Russia without losing a game and were confirmed by FIFA as the youngest squad in the qualifiers worldwide.
Nigeria will open its world cup against Croatia on June 16 at the newly built 35,000 Kalinigrad stadium. It will then play Iceland on June 22 at Volgograd Stadium and then end it group match against Argentina in what may be a decider on June 26 at the magnificent 68,000 St. Petersburg stadium.
Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Groups
A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
E: Brazil, Switzerland. Costa Rica, Serbia
F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Korea Republic
G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
Here they are! The groups for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia! ???
— #WorldCupDraw ? (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2017
Which game are you most looking forward to?! ?#WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/CYBTaqkgpF
