Nigeria Super Eagles kept their 2018 World Cup hopes alive with another thrilling second half display to dispatch Iceland 2-0 at the Volgograd Arena.
Unsurprisingly the Nigerians started with 3 central defenders – Kenneth Omeruo joining the regulars Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong. Team looked far more solid, cancelling out the aerial threat of Iceland.
“We can play different styles and systems depending on the opposition” says Troost-Ekong in the Mixed Zone after the match. “Iceland had 2 strikers and so it was important we had more defenders to counter that threat”.
This current band of Super Eagles have earned a reputation with their second half displays. What usually happens in the dressing room? “It was a do or die feeling we had as we came out. We were fighting for our World Cup lives, we are playing for our families, our friends and our country so we knew something had to change” Troost-Ekong says with a steely look in his eyes even an hour after the match.
“We are not where we want to be yet but this is step in the right direction. We are now going to concentrate and get the right result against Argentina”.
Nigeria go up against Argentina in St Petersburg on Tuesday the 26th in the final group match. A draw and Nigeria are through to the Round of 16
